Captain Ahab and 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 


   American novelist Herman Melville’s favorite book from the Bible was The Book of Wisdom. He owned a stand alone copy that he underlined and wrote in extensively. His copy of Wisdom is now housed in the family museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Biblical book’s themes of wisdom, justice, generosity, and faith are mirrored in the characters and plot of his classic novel, Moby Dick. In the margins of his personal copy of Wisdom, Melville also directly references, amongst other Scripture citations, today’s other two Mass readings, as he was creating notes for the characters in what ultimately becomes his classic novel.

    Melville took Captain Ahab's relentless pursuit of the white whale from Wisdom’s discussion of the pursuit of wisdom and justice. Instead of the righteous pursuit of wisdom and justice as Wisdom suggests, Ahab's single-minded focus on his own desires ultimately leads to his downfall. Highlighting the importance of seeking God’s wisdom and justice with a pure heart and a selfless motive, Captain Ahab’s own philosophical justification for revenge from a sense of injustice leads to his iconic demise.
Melville created the character of Queequeg, the generous and compassionate harpooner in Moby Dick partially from the message that Saint Paul alludes to in today’s reading from 2nd Corinthians (8:7, 9, 13-15). Queequeg embodied the spirit of generosity and sharing, as he willingly helps his fellow crew members and shows kindness to those in need. Even in death, Queequeg saves the life of the novel’s main character, Ishmael, as a reminder of the importance of giving generously to others and sharing with those who are less fortunate.

    Today’s Gospel story from Mark (5:21-43) tells the stories of Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage. Melville’s personal notes reference this Gospel as the themes of faith and healing reflected in the character of Ishmael, the narrator of "Moby Dick." Ishmael's journey on the whaling ship is a test of his faith and courage, as he faces the dangers of the sea and encounters the enigmatic Captain Ahab. Ishmael's experiences challenge him to trust in the unknown and to have faith in the face of uncertainty, much like the characters in the Gospel story who reach out to Jesus in faith for healing and restoration.

    Like the characters in Moby Dick, we are reminded by today’s Mass readings that we are called to navigate the challenges of life with courage, faith, and a spirit of generosity and compassion. Just as Ishmael finds redemption and new life through his journey on the whaling ship, we too can find healing and transformation through our journey of faith in Christ’s healing power and in service to others.

 

 

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