Time is Running Out!

~~~Third Sunday in Ordinary Time~~~

~~~ Jonah 3:1-5, 10 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 ~~~ 

~~~ Mark 1:14-20 ~~~

Jonah and Jesus had much in common.
They both were sent by God the Father to deliver a message.

...time is running out...
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Jesus and Jonah spread the same message of repentance.
We are still weeks away from Ash Wednesday,
yet we are already hearing this message of repentance.

Jonah, you may remember,
did not want to go to Nineveh at all.
He tried to resist God. He tried to ignore
 the mission God commanded.
But it did not work out the way Jonah had hoped,
so in the end he reluctantly agrees
to follow the orders from God.

Jonah was spit out of the fish to become one of God's fishers.
When you go fishing it always a thrill to catch a fish,
because there is never any guarantee you will.

Jonah was totally surprised to find
the people of Nineveh actually did listen to him.

His message from God had been taken seriously...
the people did repent in time.
With only forty days left the sprang into action
and God spared them from his wrath.

Jesus called fishermen to leave
 their boats behind and come with him.

They had fishing experience, but they never would
 have imagined what it was like to fish for men.

Jesus may have initially chosen fishermen
because they had patience.
You cannot be in a hurry if you are casting your net for a catch.
Fishermen know the importance of mending their nets.
Fishermen know the importance of keeping
their boats in good repair.

All of these skills would be useful in accomplishing the task
 Jesus was calling them to do with his guidance.

Jonah resisted but in the end
was able to save the city of Nineveh.
Those chosen by Jesus were able to insure
 his message would ultimately be passed on to us.

Now it is our turn.
God is always in need of more fishers...
today that is you and me.

If we believe than we must also agree to be fishers.
We must keep out nets and boats in good repair.
We must be patient.
We must continue to cast our nets.

...Time is running out...

We are called and Blessed to continue fishing.
~~~Peace~~~