We hear from three prophets this week: Jonah, Malachi and Joel. Of the many things they say, I want to focus on just one point: Jonah’s double standard.

Most of us remember parts of Jonah’s story: how he was called by God, how he ran away, how he was swallowed by a whale. What we sometimes forget is that Jonah was given a second chance to follow God and bring the prophetic message to Nineveh. And what almost everyone forgets is how Jonah reacted when Nineveh repented and God relented: Jonah was angry — livid, really — that Nineveh got a second chance.

This is actually one of the key messages of the Book of Jonah. If Jonah was glad that he got a second chance to follow the Lord, then it was a double standard to be angry that Nineveh got a second chance, too.

That message makes me wonder: Do we, today, have any double standards that need to be critiqued?

I’m sure there are many, and we could all come up with our own list! But two stand out to me.

The first is this: If a friend had really good news to share, but didn’t bother to tell us, we would be disappointed, maybe even angry. But the same lesson applies to evangelization: We have really good news to share, and we tend not to share it with each other. That strikes me as a double standard when it comes to sharing good news. That double standard prevents us from living more deeply in the Lord together.

The second is this: If a friend was going through a struggle, we would want to know how we could help. In fact, we consider it an honor to be invited into the vulnerable places of a friend’s life. Yet we tend to hide our own vulnerabilities. “I don’t want to burden anyone with this.” When others ask for help, we don’t think it’s a burden. But we think it’s a burden when we need to ask for help. That’s a double standard. And that double standard prevents us from living more deeply in the Lord together.

Jesus concludes one of His parables this week by asking: “If you, then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). We hear something similar from Jesus in the Gospel of John: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you.”

It makes me wonder: Are we asking?

I think of the generosity of the people of the Archdiocese of St. Louis when it comes to the Annual Catholic Appeal — a generosity that staggers me every year! In light of that, we should stop to think: God wants to be even more generous with us!

I wonder if this is a double standard, too. We’re not afraid to be asked to give to a cause. In fact, we like it, and respond generously! But we’re afraid to ask God.

Let’s ask boldly for the gift of the Holy Spirit — and then prepare to be amazed at God’s generous response.