Homily for the Week of January 25, 2009

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time B 2009
First Reading: Jonah 3:1–5, 10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4–5, 6–7, 8–9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29–31
Gospel: Mark 1:14–2

There was a farmer by the name of Muldoon. His beloved dog died and Muldoon went to his parish priest to make funeral arrangements. "I'm sorry, Muldoon," says the priest. "I can't be having the animal's funeral here, but there's a new church down the road that might be helping you." "Thanks, Father," says Muldoon. "And do you think that $50.000 will be enough for a funeral donation?" "Why, Muldoon," says the priest, "you didn't tell me the dog was Catholic."
The common theme of all three readings today could be summarized by the phrase: TIME OF FULFILMENT. In other words: What must we do with our life before our funeral, before the time of fulfilment? The story of Jonah is fascinating. It is not only about Jonah escaping to the belly of a whale for three days so he would not have to go to Nineveh. Nineveh was considered the most brutal of all the Mediterranean Middle Eastern countries that had ever existed. Nineveh became a example for the scariest place on earth. Parents would threaten to send their children to Nineveh if they did not behave.

But God had something else in mind for the people of Nineveh. But it is to this place that God sent Jonah to tell them that they had to ask for forgiveness. They fasted in sackcloth and ashes, and God had mercy on them. Amazingly the people of Nineveh changed their ways when they heard Jonah. This story teaches us that God is radically different from us. His ability to forgive is beyond our imagining.

In our second reading St. Paul is reminding us that lifetime is short. It may be hard for us to realize this especially if you are a young person. But our reading reminds us that it is really God who keeps us around. Paul is telling us that the amount of time we have to get it right is limited. Paul tells us that time is running out.

On the other hand there were those who stopped working and did nothing just in case they might be doing something bad when God called them. Paul had to scold them. Paul decided that those who do not work should not eat. Knowing this, we realize that we walk with a foot in two worlds, the world of the present and the world to come, and we have to live for both of them simultaneously.

The response to the psalm today is a prayer: ''Teach me your ways, O Lord.'' We should want to know how God wants us to live. We understand the expression, ''Pay now or pay later.'' What many fail to understand is that, when we choose to ''pay later,'' it is always more expensive.
Our last reading tells us the story that Jesus began his public life after the arrest of John the Baptist. Jesus begins his public life with a summary of what he is about. The first example we are offered is the calling of Jesus' closest followers or disciples. Mark's gospel is very much the gospel of action, so here too we see no questioning of destiny but an immediate response. Jesus tells about calling his helpers whom we call apostles. These were good fisherman, but they were not saints nor persons who knew the Bible very well, nor the type of persons on whom you would build a world wide religion. But Jesus took them, and knew they could be changed if only they listened to him and believed in him. When Jesus comes to Simon and Andrew, James and John they don't utter a word. But at once they leave both their livelihood and their families and follow Jesus.

In a similar way Jesus comes to each of us here on this Saturday, January 24,2009 (Sunday, January 25, 2009) and invites us to reform our lives and to believe in the good news. Reform means to turn our lives around if that is necessary. If we have been going away from God, it is now time to turn to him.

Jesus comes along the shores of our lives, calling out to us as he did to Andrew and Peter in their boat. He calls us by name, inviting us to repent and believe in the Bible. Maybe at times from where we are in our busy days we may have to squint against the glare of the world’s attractions to see Jesus. But in the next step we ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go and let God really happen in our lives? Today Jesus calls each of us. Yes, we have often been called, but today there may be some part of our lives, or some events in our life that conflicts with that of Jesus. However, no matter how many times we choose to ignore God's call, God is always there. God never gives up. God doesn't become impatient or frustrated with us. God never reminds us about all God has done for us. Like Jonah, we are called a second time.

There are many who want to set themselves up as Jesus the Savior and invite you to join them. Some are well intentioned; others want numbers. We are given the opportunity today to again listen to God’s call to reform our lives. God is in our midst, but we cannot never respond to Him, if we are looking somewhere else. But we are also called to see and to love this God who freely gives us mercy., But our God also demands that we walk where there is evil, he demands that we put away hate and all desires of retribution, and seek the love of forgiveness.

Our first reading and the Gospel speak to us of discipleship. We are all invited to be a disciple which means to be a ''student'' or ''learner.'' As disciples of Jesus we want to learn His ways.
We are called to please God in all that we think, say or do. I know of no better way of having happiness in this life, and of course, being able to enter into everlasting life. And this is faith. Faith, as I have so often preached, is not a fear of God, but knowing that God loves me regardless. But, love of God, as any love, requires us to talk and listen to God, which is prayer.