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~~~

The Belly of Conversion

~~~ Jonah 3:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Luke 11:29-32 ~~~

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Every year during the season of Lent we are given the opportunity to repent.

The people of Nineveh proclaimed a fast put on sackcloth and covered themselves with ashes.

The entire city joined in this great outward sign of conversion,

including the king.

Today we are not being asked to take part in such a public

demonstration of our repentance.

But we are being called to return to the same God...

the same God that sent Jonah to bring the people to conversion.

Even the king of the city got the message and made

the personal decision to also repent.

No matter who tells you to repent it will always be your personal decision.

The people of Nineveh were so moved to respond to the message

delivered through Jonah that they even imposed this fast upon their animals.

I do find this curious since the animals had nothing for which to repent.

Perhaps the message here is that all of creation bows to God

and is made holy by the creator himself.

Or the people could have just been going to the extreme with their penance.

The important fact is; they heard the message and they acted accordingly.

When Jonah does finally surrender his control to God the results are far reaching.

Jonah was taken into the darkness of the belly of the great fish.

 It is there, in the place of darkness and isolation, that Jonah was  

able to give up all control of his life.

This place where he did not want to be became his greatest saving grace from God.

It is here where God is finally able to get his attention.

Jonah was deprived of what he previously knew to be his life.

From the belly of the great fish, God led Jonah

 into a greater life more closely aligned with God's plan for his life.

There have most likely been times in my life and your life

where we did not want to give up control to God.

Sometimes he, God, must take us deeper and deeper until finally

we have no other option but to say 'I surrender'.

God brings us to the depths into the darkness

to teach us to rely completely on him.

When we have no where else to turn he is there...

in the darkness...

when we feel isolated...

when we feel abandoned...

he is there.

He is there waiting to bring forth wondrous things from

his humbled servant.

Sometimes it is hard to pray the words...

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will...

especially when it pains you with perceived loss.

The presence of God is with you in the darkest of times.