3rd Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections (From) 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), January 22, 2012

Liturgical readings

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 25
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

"Reform your lives and believe in the good news!"

The message of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, until the end of His earthly life is clear: a clarion call to reform and believe in Him and the Kingdom of God. Jesus continues the prophetic tradition of His people's faith - calling all Israel to turn away from their sinful ways and to turn back to God. In this mission, Jesus called others to join Him. The gospel passage mentions the first four: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John. It is amazing to see how they responded: "they immediately abandoned their nets". James and John did not only abandon their fishermen's nets; they also abandoned their father! What was in Jesus and His message that made these men respond in such a radical manner?

The Christian spirit of reform after biblical times has always sparked a revival, renewal and rebirth of Jesus' ideals in the lives of the people in history - both outside and inside the Church. When the faithful's ways of living are misdirected towards a lowering of moral standards, the Spirit of God calls again, in the person of many Saints along the continuum of history, to lead people back to the noble ideals Jesus represented. From St. Benedict in the 5th century to the Cistercians in the 11th century; from the desert monks and hermits of Egypt in the 3rd century to the Hispanic reformers of the 16th century (Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Ignatius of Loyola); and from modern times: Frank Duff, Josemaria Escriva, Sr. Lucia of Fatima, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and John Paul II.

All of the faithful are also called to follow the noble ideals of Christianity in whatever circumstances one's life and faith presents itself. Merely by a resolve to reform one's life, carry it out with patience and perseverance, and fidelity to it till the end, is already important. It may involve some sacrifice that allows God to purge bad habits and vices in one's way of life and work. That is the difficult part; but it is possible with God. Once the discipline is learned well, then the road becomes easier. It is a lifelong task (and a gift) - this continuous conversion of hearts and minds towards God. Believing in Jesus and His good news, will give lives direction, hope and meaning. Christ is the Truth, the Way and Life for us.