Reading 1 Jon 3:1-5, 10
The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, "
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Reading 2 1 Cor 7:29-31
I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.
Gospel Mk 1:14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
Meditation: Mark 1:14-20
“They left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:18)
In his unending creativity, God calls us to know him and to serve him in a way that is unique to each of us. In today’s first reading, we see Jonah, a fearful prophet, first resisting God’s call but then giving in—resulting in the conversion of the entire city of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). And in today’s Gospel, we see Jesus calling his disciples to set out on an adventure that challenged all their assumptions. They too resisted at times, but eventually became impassioned preachers of the gospel (Mark 1:16-20).
In both instances, the almighty Creator reached down and called finite, fallen people to follow him— and it touched them to the depths of their hearts. We shouldn’t be surprised at this. In fact, we should expect God’s intervention to cause some sort of disturbance. Jonah was challenged to move beyond what he thought were his capabilities. The disciples also struggled for a long time to understand Jesus and his calling. Yet in both situations, God formed them into true servants.
Our Father wants each of us to be witnesses to his gospel and servants of his kingdom. No matter how well-educated or how dedicated we may be, God’s call will inspire us to go further. It may not be as dramatic as it was for the disciples or for Jonah. It may occur over the course of many months, or even years. But it will happen. One by one, our thoughts will be challenged. One by one, our ideas will change to match Jesus’ ideas.
This process of transformation may not always be enjoyable, but it will be fruitful! If we try our best to be faithful in the little things God asks of us each day, we will be changed over time. God will form us into disciples capable of making a difference in the world, just as the apostles and prophets did. All he’s looking for are humble, open hearts.
“Thank you, Jesus, for calling me to be your disciple. With joy, and knowing my life will never be the same, I take up your call. I trust that you will be with me.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Jonah 3:1-5,10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20)
1. In the first reading, when the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s warning of God’s impending judgment on their city, they believed the words and repented of their sins. Why do you think the Ninevites believed Jonah’s message? (Hint: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah” (Jonah 3:1))
2. In the responsorial psalm, we ask the Lord to teach us his ways and guide us. How important is it to you to have a specific time each day when you pray and try to “listen” to the Lord? What are some of the obstacles to this in your life? How important is it to turn to the Lord during the day and ask him to guide you? What are some of the obstacles to this in your life?
3. St. Paul’s words in the second reading (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) may seem harsh and impractical to us today. What message do you believe Paul was trying to convey in these words? In what ways can we apply the principle put forth in his message to our lives today and to the current times?
4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus, like Jonah, preached a message of repentance. Unlike the people of Nineveh, many people rejected his message. Jesus pointed to this fact as well in Matthew 12:41: “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.” Why do you think people would reject Jesus’ message of repentance, but not Jonah’s?
5. What did Jesus mean, in the Gospel reading, when he said to his disciples, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:16)? In what ways do you believe that Jesus has called you to be his witness and be fishers of men and women? What are some obstacles that keep you from answering this call of evangelization?
6. The meditation begins with these words: “In his unending creativity, God calls us to know him and to serve him in a way that is unique to each of us.” How would you describe this “unique” call of God for your life?
7. Take some time now to pray that God would give you the grace to say yes more fully to Jesus’ call to be his disciple and to be fishers of men and women. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
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