DAILY- HOMILY

January 25, 2015, 3rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle B, Green

Jon 3:1–5 / 1 Cor 7: 29-31 / Mk 1: 14-20

First Reading: Jon 3:1–5

     The word of Yahweh came to Jonah a second time: "Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you."

     In obedience to the word of Yahweh, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day's journey and began proclaiming, "Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed."

     The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 7: 29-31

     I say this, brothers and sisters: time is running out, and those who are married must live as if not married; those who weep as if not weeping; those who are happy as if they were not happy; those buying something as if they had not bought it, and those enjoying the present life as if they were not enjoying it. For the order of this world is vanishing.

Gospel: Mk 1: 14-20

     After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God. He said, "The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News."

     As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." At once, they left their nets and followed him. Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

Reflection:

     In today's Gospel reading four ordinary people have an encounter with Jesus. Starting his public ministry and walking by the Sea of Galilee "he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.' At once, they left their nets and followed him." Then "Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men."

     When Jesus called the four, they could have replied, "Let us think about it for a while." But no; they did not question nor hesitate nor consult anybody. They left everything and followed Jesus.

     When Jesus encounters us today to follow him and let him be the Lord of our lives, he does not want us to think about it, to weigh it, to study the pros and cons, to talk to our family and friends, to wait and see if something better will come along or the situation in which we are will change or improve,

     When Jesus calls there is a sense of urgency; there is a sense that Jesus is erupting into our lives with such a strong force that we have no choice but to decide, not tomorrow or the day after, but now when he encounters us, while we have him by our side.

     Many people believe in God only when it is convenient or when there is nothing better to do or when it is socially acceptable or when they sense they need a favor from God but there is no conviction to give one's all, one's whole life to him. When Jesus encounters us, he does not want our opinion about him. He wants our conviction that he is the Lord of Life, that we are his servants and

he is the master, that he is the leader. We are his followers, his children; he is our Father-provider.

     Jesus not only calls us to a life of urgency and conviction but also to a task. He calls us to do something with what he has given to us. He calls us to share, and to give to others what he has first given to us: his love, his caring, his forgiveness.

     Sharing our faith, sharing our resources, sharing a part of ourselves with others, proclaiming his good news to others, is what this life is all about as we follow Jesus. But one may wonder, with whom do I share the Good News about Jesus, to whom do I speak about Jesus?

     Jesus calls us to love people nobody else loves. Jesus calls us to reach out to the lonely, the hungry, the sick, the ones in prison, the disabled, the needy, people who need to hear that someone loves them and that someone is Jesus himself.

     Jesus came preaching the Good News that the kingdom of God was at hand, He asks us to go into all the world with the same message, the message of the Good News of God that his kingdom is now at hand. Jesus calls us to a life of conviction, a life or urgency, a life reaching out with his message of love and forgiveness to all the people we encounter.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     MELISSA R. YEUNG

     VIRGILIO CATUNAO

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the healing and recovery of LIM GIET YAN Gotamco

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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