Sunday Readings in Brief 3 B
Jonah 3:1-5.10; Psalms 24(25); 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31; Mark 1:14-20
The Messengers Good News
Dear friends, today is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary time. When we were young, we were always excited to receive new things such as new clothes and shoes during Christmas, new uniforms and books in January, etc. New things look good and pleasing to the eyes. They give a certain kind of confidence to the one possessing them. New things were rare, and everyone would notice when someone had something new. You could not just restrain from showing off. Things were more original and durable then. Today, that has changed a lot. The excitement and joy that came with new things have been taken away due to invasion by fake things.
Today people prefer old things, which are deemed more durable and reliable. This has affected even the faith of the people in many things including the worship. In the olden days public institutions used to offer reliable services. Families were more solid and strict on discipline. Parents passed on good practices to their children and children became better than their parents. Preachers were concerned about the lives and the families of their faithful. Today corruption has caught up with almost all institutions. Fake preachers have corrupted the Gospel and people do not know who preaches the correct Christ anymore.
Having said that, the reality also demonstrates that people prefer their old ways because new ones demand radical changes and come with a cost. Even amid so many fake commodities, they still manufacture good new things, which are commonly referred to as ‘OG” meaning Original. The original Christ is still with us in the Eucharist and the Word, but we must change our attitude if we are to embrace him. Attitude is a costly thing to change. There is a cartoon drawing that shows how everyone wants change, but no one is willing to change his or her ways. Both Jonah and Christ were messengers of the original kingdom of God that required change.
From the first reading today, we hear how the people of Nineveh believed in the warnings of Prophet Jonah and repented their evil ways turning back to God. When we stay far from the word of God, we get mixed up in corrupt dealings sometimes unaware because the voice that warns us whenever we are going wrong is faded or suppressed. We go to Church to stay alive to the virtues and renew our moral consciousness. Just like the body, our moral consciousness needs to be fed constantly. The people of Nineveh realized how corrupt they had become and with Jonah’s preaching they repented, and God retreated his wrath on them. God is not happy when we perish in evil. He sends his messengers to warn us and help us get back on the right path for our own good.
The Psalmist is pleading with God to teach him his ways and have compassion on him. Are you in a mess that you got yourself into and cannot get out? God in his compassion will help you if you let him do so. God does not impose himself on us; it is our call if we really need help. An addict can go to the best rehabilitation Centers in the world but unless God intervenes so that the person may make a conscious decision to change, it will be a waste of time and resources.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that the present life on earth is a temporary one. Many seem to forget this fact and live as though they were immortal. The things of this world are supposed to help us get back to God where we came from. Let us not forget that worldly things can lead us astray and make us lose our lives for good. Hell is missing what is our biggest desire – to see God. St. Paul urges us to live in this world as pilgrims training our eyes to the destination. However pleasant the worldly things may be they will definitely come to an end. When we attend funerals, we get an opportunity to see how perishable our life on earth is.
In the Gospel reading, the first disciples of Jesus show us what we have to do if we truly want to follow Jesus. We must abandon everything and people so dear and trust him with our lives. These four men left all they had to live on and followed Jesus. It was such a radical decision to make. The Christian way of life is radical because it calls us to abandon many “pleasant” things in this world. However, this radical call makes us truly free different from what the world thinks about freedom. Many prefer to stay far from the Church thinking that by doing so they are free. That is not freedom but slavery to the world order. Many people mess up because of recklessness and lack of knowledge about the dangers involved in what they do. However, when we know the dangers involved, we tend to live with caution and can avoid flaws. Christianity is all about keeping vigil on earth so that we may attain eternity.
My dear friends, in this world we must be very meticulous if we are to make a choice between the old and new stuff. Not every new thing is good and not every old thing is bad. Our choice must be very informed. New places of worship are emerging with all pomp and glamour and people are flocking there thinking that this is where the Spirit is powerful. It is as if the Spirit needs powerful Speakers to come through. The solemn services seem too dull for the Spirit to show up. It is in our hearts where we need to warm up for the Spirit and not sweat our clothes wet.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 