Option ‘For’ God!

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32

Today’s Gospel invites us to examine if we are for or against God. 

The theory of Fundamental Option holds that in anything we do, we make a choice for or against God. If we do good, we opt for God. If we do something bad, we opt against God. 

Evaluating the Gospel text against the theory of fundamental option, we find that the Jewish religious leaders make an option against God by rejecting the God-sent Jesus.

Their rejection of Jesus begins with a subtle request like asking for a sign. The Gospel is an example of how even subtle things could reveal greater hostility. 

So, what does asking for a sign exactly mean? 

It basically means that they neither accept the identity of Jesus as the Son of God nor his message of the Kingdom. Needless to say, his ministry of preaching and healing is also resisted and found fault with. 

How is the rejection of Jesus contrasted in the Gospel?

It is contrasted through the example of Gentiles who were far more open to receiving God’s word and accepting His representatives.

The Ninevites were open to the message of repentance preached by Jonah and mended their ways and lives. 

The Queen of the South traveled all the way to be amazed at the wisdom of Solomon, who was chosen by God. 

Demonstrating these two examples of pagans who were open to and readily accepted God’s message and His representatives, Jesus lets them understand how bad their hostility and rejection are, especially in the face of the ‘pagan option’ for God. 

What is the consequence of rejecting the person of Jesus and his message? 

We would be wrong to conclude that Jesus judged or condemned them. Instead, Jesus shows what happens when he or his Gospel is rejected.

Jesus lets them understand that in condemning Jesus, they stand condemned on account of their rejection of the Son of God. In disbelieving the message of the Kingdom, they reject the message of God that Jesus came proclaiming. In addition, by alienating the message of repentance, they do not see the need to amend their lives. Thus, what is implied in the rejection of the person of Jesus and his message is their turning against God, the Son of God, and their very selves in need of correction and conversion. 

As we understand through the theory of fundamental option, whenever we reject something good, there is every likelihood that we will fall for something evil. 

More often than not, rejecting Jesus and falling in line with evil are not two different things. 

Let us pray that we may show greater openness to embrace the good and thus always and unfailingly declare our option for God. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar