Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) (25th January, 2015) on the Gospel Jon 3:1-5.10; Ps 24:4-9 (R. v. 4); 1Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20. There was a presbytery in which a priest was living with two boys and a cook. The boys were normally called by pressing the bell. But because sometimes a message would be meant for a particular boy, the priest differentiated how they would know whose attention was needed. When the priest pressed the bell once the elder one would know that he was needed and when the bell was pressed twice it would be the younger one. But these boys soon afterwards devised means of avoiding the priest’s summons. Whenever the elder one delayed to answer, the priest would think that he was not around and pressed the bell again. And the younger one would know that the lot has fallen on him. At a point, the younger one also devised the same means because if the priest pressed the bell three times it would be the cook. Topic: Answering God’s call For two consecutive Sundays now we read how some of the apostles were called. According to today’s gospel, Jesus had begun his ministry before calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to help him in the ministry. Hence, he said to them: “Follow me and I will make you fish for people” (Mk 1:17). The call to discipleship demands unreserved positive response. In the gospel according to Mark, Jesus said: “... If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34; cf. Lk 14:27). Again, in the gospel according to Luke we read: “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26; cf. Lk 14:33). We also read in the gospel according to Matthew: “37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:37-38). And again, to the man who wanted to be a disciple but needed time to bid farewell to those he was to leave behind Jesus said: “... No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62). In the gospel, when Peter and his brother Andrew were called they left their nets and followed Jesus immediately, cf. Mk 1:18. Likewise when James and his brother John were called, they left even their father Zebedee with the hired men and followed Jesus, cf. Mk 1:20. These apostles seemed to have toed the line of our patriarchs in faith in their prompt response to Jesus’ call and in line with Jesus’ demand. For example, when God called Abraham, when he called Moses, and when he called Samuel among others, they all answered in the same words: “Here am I” cf. Gen 22:1; Ex 3:4; 1Sam 3:4, 5, 6, 8. Call to discipleship is a call to be sons and daughters of God, cf. Matt 12:49-50; Mk 3:34-35; Lk 8:21. And this manifests God’s love for us, cf. 1Jn 3:1. First letter of Saint Peter reads: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pt 2:9). But those called must be careful lest we miss the blessing, cf. 1Pt 3:9. Again, call to discipleship is not a call to a life free from all forms of suffering but a life with an assurance that after the little suffering we might go through in this world, the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen us, cf. 1Pt 5:10. Hence, Paul writes: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18). God is ever able. Hence he asks: “Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water, and die of thirst” (Is 50:2). Sometimes we tend to abandon God forgetting all he has done and is doing for us and “...that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). If we do not listen to God we close his ears to our cries, prayers, praises, and so on, cf. Prov 12:22; 15:8, 26; 21:27. Through the prophet Zechariah God said: “‘As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear’, says the LORD of hosts” (Zech 7:13). And in the Second Chronicles we read: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2Chr 7:14). My dear brothers and sisters, we are all called just as the apostles were called. The big question is whether we are ready to follow God leaving everything behind without even saying goodbye? Saint Paul begs us to “...to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Eph 4:1). In the same vein, Saint Peter also admonishes us thus: “... as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct” (1Pt 1:15; 1Thess 4:7). So it is left for us to either follow God or the desires of our hearts (our enemy). Bible Reading: Is 43:1-7; 1Pt 2:1-10; 3:8-12; 1Jn 3:1-10; Lk 9:57-62; Eph 4:1-24. Silent Prayer: Do you know that you are called to be Christ’s disciple? Is there anything you love more than God who has called you? Let us pray: Lord, give us all the graces we need so that we may follow you without looking at or thinking of any other thing else –– Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 12:43:05 +0000
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