Daily Readings - Sun Jan 21 2018
First Reading - Jonah 3.1-5, 10
Jonah
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 7.29-31
1 Corinthians
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Gospel - Mark 1.14-20
Mark
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of repentance, detachment, and responding to God's call. In the first reading, Jonah, after initial reluctance, preaches to Nineveh, leading the people to repentance and God's mercy. This story underscores the power of turning back to God and His compassionate response. The second reading from Corinthians encourages us to live in the present with a sense of detachment, recognizing the transient nature of the world, and to focus on eternal values. The Gospel shows Jesus calling the first disciples, who immediately leave their nets to follow Him, exemplifying a prompt and total response to God's invitation.
These readings are interconnected through the theme of conversion. Jonah's mission leads to collective repentance, Paul advises on living with a focus on eternity, and the Gospel illustrates the disciples' immediate response to Jesus. Together, they emphasize a change in life direction towards God. The call to repentance in Jonah and the call to discipleship in the Gospel highlight the importance of conversion and trust in God's providence.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to be open to God's call, live with detachment from worldly concerns, and respond promptly to His invitations. The moral lesson is clear: conversion is an ongoing process, and trusting in God's plan leads to a life of purpose and fulfillment. Let us embrace this call to conversion, living each day with faith and trust in God's loving providence.