Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Cor 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Today’s three readings may help us to reflect on God’s blessings upon people with humility and repentant hearts. These try to follow God’s will. In today’s first reading, Jonah accepts his mission to warn the Ninevites to repent from their sins lest they perish. To his great surprise, they immediately do so, and God does not punish them. The people of Nineveh were enemies of Jonah’s land, Israel; he wished them to die in their sins, and not to turn them to God and live. That’s why at first Jonah resisted his calling by God to go and warn the Ninevites. He took a ship to escape. Ironically, to save the ship from sinking, people threw him into the sea, where he was swallowed by a big fish that kept him in its belly for three days and nights. While there, he prayed to God for help, praised God and repented, such that, when the fish threw up Jonah upon dry land, he was ready to carry out the mission God had given him. And the Ninevites had soft hearts; they listened to Jonah and repented of their sins; they lived and prospered (See Jonah 1:1—2:10).
God did not punish Jonah; He wanted to teach him a lesson, which Jonah learned very well. We may try to frustrate God’s will but can never succeed. We should listen to what God is telling us through prayer. This may enable us to succeed in our endeavours. Our humility is required in this case.
Sometimes we force ourselves into what we are less gifted in and ignore our gifts or talents. We are invited to listen to God’s calling. We need to convert from from our arrogance and obey the will of God for us to receive blessings and prosper. GOD FAVOURS A HUMBLE, REPENTANT HEART.
The second reading expresses this humility in a very strong (or poignant) way. Saint Paul says that the world in its present time is passing away (7:31). He urges us to set our eyes on God and to depend on His guidance, so that our thoughts, plans and actions (undertakings) do not move us away from God.
We should be concerned about spiritual matters that nourish our souls rather than only passing things. Possessions such as businesses, employment, wealth, economic power, social status, fame and others may sustain us and help us to function well in society. But, as Christians, we also need salvation. If enjoyed apart from God, these possessions may move us away from God and lead to our spiritual poverty (or poverty of the soul)
Some people accumulate a lot of wealth and enjoy a lot of power. They have everything they want. They also have both real and fake friends that cling to them. Yet, despite their power and wealth, if they neglect feeding their souls, most of these people are lonely, because they experience an emptiness that only God can fill up. When they die, all their possessions and friends will abandon them, except their soul which they had neglected. ONLY THE SOUL FOLLOWS ONE INTO THE GRAVE AND AFTER. It is the greatest friend we have. Yet it is often the most neglected. But Scripture says, “What does is it profit one to gain the whole world and lose their soul?” The graces of humility and repentance are required in this regard.
The four disciples (Simon and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John) in today’s Gospel passage respond well with great humility to God’s calling. They are fishermen, and Jesus calls them to be fishers of men (and women). They have their own business, which has given them economic stability and a good social status. Yet, they promptly answer the Lord’s call to spread the Good News and to bring people to God, thereby saving their own souls as well as other people’s souls. In their humble response, the disciples seek the kingdom of God prior to material needs, which are passing along along with our earthly life. As Scripture says, “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these shall be added unto you”.
Lord, give us humble and repentant hearts to do your will and to use our gifts well, so that we may inherit your Kingdom. Amen
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