Sunday 25^th January – 3^rd Sunday of the year

Reflection: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10

WHAT EFFORTS ARE YOU MAKING?

The story of the prophet Jonah is one that shows forth the depth of God’s mercy. Though God is just, He is immensely merciful, seeking the salvation of all man. Hence despite Jonah’s initial refusal to obey God’s instruction, God ensured that he did so that the Ninevites would be given a chance to hear the message of repentance.

Dear friends, God is aware of our imperfections and the struggles we face in this fallen world are very well known to Him. Each new day He gives us is a new chance for repentance and reconciliation with Him (2 Peter 3:15). Yet, all He requires from us is a sincere effort to live in holiness. Just as God saw the efforts of the Ninevites in today’s first reading and relented on the punishment He had proposed to bring on them, God looks out for the efforts you and I are making. Are you making any efforts at all or are you simply wallowing in sin and worldly living with the excuse that “no one is perfect?”

Jesus called ordinary men to be his followers in today’s gospel reading. These men whom He later appointed “Apostles” were uneducated imperfect fishermen. Yet, because they surrendered themselves to our Lord and made efforts to follow Him faithfully, He strengthened their faith and enabled them to become pillars of His Church. Beloved, Jesus calls out to you and I today with the words: “follow me”. He is ready to give us the grace we need. But we must be ready to make efforts to follow Him in sincerity.

PRAYER: Lord, make me know your ways. Teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth and teach me; for you are God my saviour.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1694 – Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” and so participate in the life of the Risen Lord. Following Christ and united with Him, Christians can strive to be “imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love” by conforming their thoughts, words and actions to the “mind… which is yours in Christ Jesus,” and by following His example.

HIDE A TREASURE: “…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge” 2 Peter 1:5

Readings for Today: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Psalm 25: 4-9; 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20