Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Ps 25, 1 Cor 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20

Before reflecting on our readings today, a few small comments on the Story of Jonah might be helpful.

1.       In exactly one month from now, on the 22^nd Feb we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday, and the Story of Jonah’s call to the Ninevites will be the story of the day.

2.       Jesus uses the story of Jonah as a paradigm or type. Jonah was called to proclaim repentance and salvation to the Ninevites. Jesus sees Jonah as a pattern of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

3.       Matthew relates the story of Jonah as a paradigm or type as well. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days. This is the pattern of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He was in the tomb for three days.

4.       Finally, and most important, according to Scripture Scholars, the story of Jonah is not the story of a prophet. But rather the story of the universality of God’s salvation. Here was the story not of a prophet, but of a man who was sent to a People who were not the chosen race. After the exile, the Israelites became exclusive and arrogant. Salvation was only for the chosen race. They thought they could have God as their personal possession. The story of Jonah is to show the falsehood of this claim.

The story is told of God showing a group of Hindus and Muslims around heaven. As they come to a certain part, God asks them to lower their voices, and keep quiet. When they had passed the corner, the Hindus/Muslims asked God, “Why did we have to keep quiet there?” Oh, replied God with a smile that is where all the Christians are, they think that heaven is exclusively for them.

                With this background, we look at two more calls. First, we had the call of the wise men from the East at Epiphany. The next Sunday (last week) we had the call of Samuel and the call of Peter. The call of Samuel came in the silence of the night. He is called not once but thrice before he could recognize God’s call and say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” The call of Peter according to the Gospel of John, is not a direct call as in today’s Gospel: “Follow me!”. It starts with a change of name, from Simon to Cephas, thus giving the direction of his call. The call is ratified only after the Resurrection, when like Samuel, Peter is asked thrice: “Do you love me?” Then the command and the call is finalized, “Feed my sheep” – take care of the Church which I have founded on you and the apostles. Take care of my people like I have done, - in a manner of service.

                Our call of Jonah and the call of the Fishermen bring out two main sure signs , that the call comes from God. They are litmus tests to show the call is genuine.

1.       The first sign is that it is God who initiates the call. God is not looking for volunteers. Volunteers can chose the time, the place and set the terms and conditions for work. When God calls, a total response is required. It is a call to leave our comfort zones.

Jonah is quite comfortable where he is. He has no desire to go to far off places, where he does not know the language and where people are strangers to him. Besides they are not the chosen people of God. For heaven sake, they are just the people who took the Israelites into slavery.

                We too would love to serve God as long as it involves coming to Church on the Sabbath, saying morning and night prayers, reciting the Rosary, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, working pro-life. God will reward us for this and it is a good preparation for making a leap of faith, for answering the call that comes in the silence of the night.

                But to leave our nets behind, - to leave our family and our security of a steady job, our RRSPs, and follow the Lord, that requires a leap of faith.  The story is told of a hiker who loved to climb mountains and hills. On one such occasion, he had nearly reached the summit when a sudden mist descended, he could not see ahead, he could not come down. He was hanging on to a branch of a tree.  Is there anyone up there, he cried. He heard the voice of God.  I am God and I am here to help you. Please God, he prayed, if you help me, I will go regularly to church, I will say my prayers, - he made other promises. Do you trust me, asked God. Yes, yes, he said eagerly. I trust you and will do anything you ask me. Well, said God just two feet below you there is a ledge which is safe enough for you to stay until the mist passes. But you have to let go of the branch. The man thought for a moment, and then said, “Is there anyone else up there?”

Going to the Ninevites, leaving ones fishing nets and family – requires a trust in God. It is the ability to let go of the branch we are holding on to.

The second feature of answering God’s call is a total commitment. This is not only hard, but not very popular in this day and age. We want change and we do not look for long term commitments.

A certain farmer was well loved by the farm animals. One day the farmer was seriously sick, and the farm animals thought of giving the farmer something he really enjoyed. He enjoyed a hearty breakfast. So the hen, the cow and the pig got together to decide what they would give the farmer. Oh, we can give him eggs and bacon and some hot milk. Wait a minute said the pig, in the case of you hen and cow, you have to give a partial contribution, in my case it is a total commitment. Yes, that is what the Lord is asking of a call, whether it be to the priesthood, the religious life, the single life as a Christian within our community, or to married life. It is a total commitment.

When I ask men whether they would consider being a priest, the immediate answer is no. It is not a matter of celibacy – many a married man and woman have lived lives of celibacy because of circumstances, rather than choice. It is not even the scandal of sexual abuse. That is a small percentage and now it seems it is in all professions – not merely the clerical. But the main reason for the NO, is that people are not geared to long term commitment. They would like to be priests for 10 years, and then renewable if things are copacetic.

We are like men with the TV remote control, we cannot stay with one channel. We are constantly switching from one to another. There is a restlessness. The only restlessness in answering God’s call should be “Are we doing enough? –is there any better way, - or what more can I give to serve in God’s kingdom.            

                The call from God may come suddenly, as Jesus called Peter and Andrew ,  James and John.  It might come out of the blue as it came to Jonah. But God waits patiently for an answer. God is not in a hurry. Like Mary, we must ponder things in our hearts. We can ask and we should ask questions. We must discern, we can make mistakes like Samuel, but when we are sure that the call is from God, then as a charismatic tune is sung, we should sing, “I surrender all”.  God bless you.