Introduction: May you continue your journey toward GOD and may you seek the guidance from the Holy Spirit.
It is admiring the skill and talent of individuals who can hit the “bull’s-eye,” whether that be with a gun, an arrow, or even darts. It takes a lot of concentration and just the right amount of strength. Not only does the shooter need to know where the target is but must be able to take into the equation such things as wind, possible misalignment of the object being sent to the target, and the effect of gravity over long distances. Individuals who regularly hit the target on center, can take all of the various factors and keep repeating their success. It demands not only skill but also a lot of practice.
The same is true of our spiritual pursuits. We must be willing to spend time practicing the spiritual disciplines, know where (or Who) our target is, and make adjustments so that we can be right “on target.”
The readings speak about a time of change, a re-orientation of life. Jonah preaches to the sinful people of Nineveh; they believe GOD’s words announced by Jonah; and they repent. The Responsorial Psalm is a prayer asking GOD to show the right way for the believer to follow. In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul urges the believers in Corinth to live a different life, a life not attached to their former, worldly ways. In the Gospel, Jesus begins His ministry by announcing the coming of the Reign of GOD and the need for belief and repentance. He also calls His first disciples, who drop everything and follow Him.
First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5,10
The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour
Commentary: The story of Jonah (whale and all) does not even pretend to be historical. For one thing, it takes about ten minutes to walk across the ruins of Nineveh. The story is a joke by Jews against Jews who think they alone can be saved: Jonah the Jew tries to run away from God, whereas the gentiles at Nineveh repent as soon as they hear God’s message – even the animals wear sackcloth! Like the story about St Peter showing Protestants round heaven: he points to a high wall: ‘Hush! The Catholics are behind there. They think they are the only people here.’ The reason why this reading is chosen to pair with the call of the disciples is the immediacy of their response. They take the message to heart without hesitation.
Responsorial Psalmb25:4-6,7b-9
Lord, make me know your ways.
The psalmist, in the spirit of Jonah, prays to GOD. Like Jonah, the psalmist asks to be shown the right path, instead of running away to escape from doing GOD’s will. Just as Jonah finally learned, the psalmist realizes that GOD does show sinners the way to repentance.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The world as we know it is passing away
Commentary: The earliest Christians were very aware that the Resurrection of Christ ushered in the last period of the world. With the fulfilment of God’s promises in Jesus’ death and resurrection everything important had happened. The end was imminent, and it was urgent for everyone to get ready. What must we think of this attitude two thousand years later? Yes, it is urgent for every individual to respond to God’s call, and there is no time to lose. Every decision counts; every step along the path leads in one direction or the other. However, this is an instance where the message of the Bible must be seen as a whole, one teaching balancing another. ‘The Kingdom of God is upon you!’ does not mean that the world will end tomorrow. Matthew’s gospel is quite clear that there is time before the last judgement to practise good works of prayer and generosity. At the last supper Jesus teaches that his disciples have a task to do in the world, guided by the Holy Spirit. So Paul is not teaching here that Christians should ‘down tools’ and sit waiting for the end, but that we must not absorb the values of those around us who think that the supermarket, the sports centre and the holiday cottage are the only realities worth thinking about.
Gospe; Mark 1:14-20
I will make you into fishers of men
Commentary: What is going on? In the Gospel of John the first two disciples joined Jesus down the Jordan Valley. One of them was Andrew, the other unnamed. Now we get another story, in another place, of other first disciples being called. So the Church underlines, on two days close together, the importance of Jesus’ new community. The first thing he does is call disciples. He can’t do everything on his own, and that is the point of the Church. He calls disciples to make a new people, a new Israel. We all have our part to fill in Jesus’ play (sometimes it seems like a pantomime), old, young, middle-aged. Tired old people, busy parents, lively youngsters, each of us can make a unique contribution, especially since Jesus has chosen us himself. An odd choice, some of us! What did he want ME to do in the new family of Jesus?
The double record shows that at least two different people told the story. When two people tell the same story, there are bound to be variations. The place didn’t matter, or the order in which they were called. The point of the story was the call, the response and the companionship, working together.
Reflection: What is the Gospel of God which Jesus came to preach? The word "gospel" literally means "good news". When a king had good news to deliver to his subjects he sent messengers or heralds throughout the land to make a public announcement - such as the birth of a newborn king or the victory over an invading army or occupied force. God sent his prophets to announce the coming of God's anointed King and Messiah. After Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit he begins his ministry of preaching the Gospel - the good news that the kingdom of God was now at hand for all who were ready to receive it.
God rules over all
What is the kingdom of God? The word "kingdom" means something more than a territory or an area of land. It literally means "sovereignty" or "reign" and the power to "rule" and exercise authority. The prophets announced that God would establish a kingdom not just for one nation or people but for the whole world. The Scriptures tell us that God's throne is in heaven and his rule is over all (Psalm 103:19). His kingdom is bigger and more powerful than anything we can imagine because it is universal and everlasting (Daniel 4:3). His kingdom is full of glory, power, and splendor (Psalm 145:11-13).
In the Book of Daniel we are told that this kingdom is given to the Son of Man (Daniel 7:14,18,22,27). The Son of Man is a Messianic title for God's anointed King. The New Testament word for "Messiah" is "Christ" which literally means the "Anointed One" or the "Anointed King". God sent us his Son not to establish an earthly kingdom but to bring us into his heavenly kingdom - a kingdom ruled by truth, justice, peace, and holiness. The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' mission. It's the core of his gospel message.
As soon as John the Baptist had finished his testimony, Jesus began his in Galilee, his home district. John's enemies had sought to silence him, but the gospel cannot be silenced. Jesus proclaimed that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus takes up John's message of repentance and calls disciples to believe in the gospel - the good news he has come to deliver. What is the good news which Jesus delivers? It is the good news of peace (restoration of relationship with God - Ephesians 6:15), of hope (the hope of heaven and everlasting life - Colossians 1:23), of truth (God's word is true and reliable - Colossians 1:5), of promise (he rewards those who seek him - Ephesians 3:6)), of immortality (God gives everlasting life - 2 Timothy 1:10), and the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God - Ephesians 1:13).
Two conditions for the kingdom - repent and believe
How do we enter the kingdom of God? In announcing the good news, Jesus gave two explicit things each of us must do to in order to receive the kingdom of God: repent and believe. When we submit to Christ's rule in our lives and believe the gospel message the Lord Jesus gives us the grace and power to live a new way of life as citizens of his kingdom. He gives us grace to renounce the kingdom of darkness ruled by sin and Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) and the ruler of this present world (John 12:31). That is why repentance is the first step.
Repentance means to change - to change my way of thinking, my attitude, disposition, and life choices so that Christ can be the Lord and Master of my heart rather than sin, selfishness, and greed. If we are only sorry for the consequences of our sins, we will very likely keep repeating the sin that is mastering us. True repentance requires a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) and sorrow for sin and a firm resolution to avoid it in the future. The Lord Jesus gives us grace to see sin for what it really is - a rejection of his love and wisdom for our lives and a refusal to do what is good and in accord with his will. His grace brings pardon and help for turning away from everything that would keep us from his love and truth.
To believe is to take Jesus at his word and to recognize that God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to free us from bondage to sin and harmful desires. God made the supreme sacrifice of his Son on the cross to bring us back to a relationship of peace and friendship with himself. He is our Father and he wants us to live as his sons and daughters. God loved us first and he invites us in love to surrender our lives to him. Do you believe that the gospel -the good news of Jesus - has power to free you from bondage to sin and fear?
Like fishermen - we are called to gather in people for the kingdom of Christ
When Jesus preached the gospel message he called others to follow as his disciples and he gave them a mission - "to catch people for the kingdom of God." What kind of disciples did he choose? Smelly fishermen! In the choice of the first apostles we see a characteristic feature of Jesus' work: he chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these individuals, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power.
When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through you for his glory?
Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the gospel. Paul the Apostles says, But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15). Do you witness to those around you the joy of the Gospel and do you pray for your neighbors, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of his love?
"Lord Jesus, you have called me personally by name, just as you called your first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Help me to believe your word and follow you faithfully. Fill me with the joy of the gospel that your light may shine through me to many others."
like a fish out of water
“They immediately abandoned their nets and became His followers.” —Mark 1:18
When a fish is caught and taken out of the water, it will die. Its former watery way of life “is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31). Similarly, everything changes when we enter into the kingdom of God. Living in God’s kingdom is as different from our pre-Christian life as is life for that fish trying to live on land. Lifestyles that worked underwater no longer work in fresh air. In order for the fish to live on land, that fish would need to receive a new nature.
So it is with us human beings. To live in the kingdom of God, we die to our old nature in Baptism; we then become “sharers of the divine nature” (2 Pt 1:4) when we rise from the waters of Baptism. Now our old lifestyle won’t work. Once we begin living the new, baptized life in Christ, we can no longer live the lifestyle we had before Christ. We must discard those things we used to do before we gave ourselves to Jesus (see Eph 4:22-24). We can no longer live as do the nonbelievers (1 Pt 4:2-3). We die to ourselves, pick up our cross each day, follow Jesus (Lk 9:23), and live the new lifestyle that befits a member of the household of God (1 Tm 3:15).
Are you struggling to live a godly life? Are you having a hard time breathing the risen air? Maybe you’re not dead yet. Beg Jesus to crucify your old nature (Gal 5:24) and raise you up to life to the full (Jn 10:10).
Prayer: Father, I want everything You have for me. I want it all. Take everything that keeps me from You. Give me Your risen life. “Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!” —Mk 1:15. Praise You, Jesus, “the Resurrection and the Life”! (Jn 11:25) I rejoice in You forever!
The personal action for today: What is my orientation right now? Am I a-theos, oriented in a direction diametrically opposite to GOD? Am I generally heading in the right direction but need some correction to be more “on target” with GOD? What aspects of my life need to be released so that I can draw ever closer to the Lord Jesus? How can I help announce the Reign of GOD to others so that they can be more “on target” toward GOD?