Repent and believe: The call to Conversion ~ Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)
1 Cor 7:29-31
Mk 1:14-20

Our readings this week speak to us about the need of conversion. A change in the way we do things; a change in the way we live. The sins of the people of Nineveh caused God to decide on the destruction of this pagan city; and he told the prophet Jonah to announce that this would happen. Surprisingly the people were receptive to Jonah's words and believed what he had to tell them. God's grace caused a conversion in each of them and they put on sack cloth and called for a fast. Most importantly, they gave up their evil ways... and God spared them.

We see conversion occurring in a different way in the Gospel reading. Mark describes how Jesus called his Apostles from their lives as fishermen to a life of spreading the Good News of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached.

This happened to be a time of fear among the people because their prophet, John the Baptizer, had been arrested. Wouldn't it have been safer for these fishermen to have kept a low profile and remained where they were?

But the work of God cannot be stopped as Jesus steps into the breech, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God has arrived! The cures and other miracles that Jesus performed among the people were proof enough for them that he was the long-awaited Messiah. And thus, when Jesus called out to Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, they did not hesitate but left their nets and followed him...

"For the world in its present form is passing away" (1 Cor:31) are the words that St. Paul used in writing to the Corinthians. And indeed, a New Era had begun... We are to reform ourselves and become new persons; people who live our lives in such a way that will put an end to the divisions among us. As we put sin behind us and live out Jesus' command to love one another, we become truly free...

In the beautiful words of the psalmist, we pray:

Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me to your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior. (Ps 25:4-5)


~ Image from the Lebanese Saints Blog