If you read your Sunday Missal you will see that the themes for today’s readings are “call, reluctance and repentance.” All the readings from Jonah, St Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians and St Mark’s Gospel have elements of these themes. However, I think that there is an overarching theme and that is God’s overwhelming spirit of mercy and love that draws all people to repent and seek forgiveness.
Jonah is a model of God’s mercy because he experienced it himself. Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh and preach. But he didn’t want to go and headed in the opposite direction. We all know the story about how Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale who spit him out on the shore. After this experience when God called Jonah again, he followed directions. He went to Nineveh and preached a hell, fire and brimstone message, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed." Much to Jonah’s shock and dismay, the people of Nineveh believed God’s message. They repented and God responded to their repentance with mercy. Jonah wanted hell, fire and brimstone but he didn’t get it. Which leads to another story about God giving Jonah a lesson about mercy.
St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthian has a similar theme. Exasperated with the Corinthian’s shocking behavior, St Paul sends them a letter warning them that “time is running out.” The difference between St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians and Jonah’s message is that St Paul wrote his letter in a spirit of mercy and love. St Paul founded the Christian community of Corinth and his reproach was delivered as a caring founder. He ended the Letter with an exhortation, “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love” (1 COR 16:13-14).
Today’s gospel from Mark 1:14-20 recounts the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. His message was, "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." For the people who lived in Galilee at that time the word gospel meant “good news.” Jesus came to proclaim the good news of God’s love. Our job is to turn our lives around and believe the good news that God loves each and every one of us. Believing in the gospel message is not just an intellectual exercise it is an exercise of the heart. Jesus’ call to repentance is a call for a radical change of heart (metanoia). Jesus invites us to repent so that we can experience a “time of fulfillment” and enter into the Kingdom of God. Simon, Andrew, James and John did not need to be coerced to follow Jesus. They heard his message and followed willingly. The message of mercy and love was compelling enough for them. It may have taken some time for them to understand what Jesus’ message meant but ultimately, they did. We are here today because they heard, followed and believed.
Almighty and ever-present Father,
Your watchful care reaches from end to end
And orders all things in such power
That even the tensions and tragedies of sin
Cannot frustrate your loving plans.
Help us to embrace your will,
Give us the strength to follow your call,
So that your truth may live in our hearts
And reflect peace to those who believe in your love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
