RETURN to ME: Reading With the People of God #16Sample

Rock Bottom and Rightful Ownership

Today’s readings speak to the heart of surrender. In Jonah 2, we find the prophet at rock bottom—literally and spiritually. From the belly of the fish, Jonah prays. It’s raw, honest, and desperate. But it’s also the turning point. Sometimes, it’s only in the depths that we finally look up. Jonah’s prayer reminds us that even when we’ve run far, God still hears and responds to repentance.

In Mark 12, Jesus tells a parable that cuts deep. A vineyard owner sends servant after servant—and finally his own son—to a group of tenants who refuse to give the owner what is rightfully his. It’s a story of rejection, but also of grace withheld no longer. Jesus is revealing the truth: everything we have is God’s. We are stewards, not owners.

Together, these readings ask us: What part of your life are you still holding back from God? What might it mean to surrender fully today—not just in crisis, but in trust?

Prayer of Illumination:
Lord, as I read today, open my eyes to Your mercy and my heart to Your rightful authority. Teach me to surrender, not just in desperation, but in devotion. Speak, and help me respond. Amen.