3 OTB.12; Jonah 3:1-10; 1Cor 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20
Jesus proclaimed, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15)
Jesus says this, but what does it mean? A humorous story is told where ….
A mother calling to her son shouted, “Johnny, tell your sister to get in the house out of the rain.” “I can’t mom,” came the reply. “And just why can’t you?” demanded his mother. “Because we are playing Noah’s Ark mom, and she’s one of the sinners.” (Source: eSermons.com) … . Aren’t we all?
Jesus is God’s response to our broken & hurting humanity.
Jesus has a specific mission, us.
Jesus tells us to repent. In Hebrew it’s shubh, meaning to return to God by turning from all else. In Greek, shubh becomes … meta-noiein, a radical change of heart, a complete about face, a resolve to reorient our entire mindset & lifestyle toward God & Jesus. Guilt & regret are not enough; repentance in order to be authentic & sustained, must be translated into a faith we profess with our life & our words. In this way, the repentant believer actually … becomes an integral, living aspect of the good news through which salvation has come to us all. (Adapted: Celebration, 1/22/12)
Then, Jesus proclaims to us ….
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men & women.”
The most important decision each of us faces is how to respond to God’s call. We are all challenged to decide how important God will be in our lives. How we respond affects everything else that we think and do.
Here’s a true story ….
An inmate on a Kentucky death row wrote; “Father, I come to you a bent & broken man, and humble myself before you, with no strength left to stand. I come to you from prison, from a place that’s called death row, & ask you to take pity, Lord, on this convict’s wretched soul…Replace this hate with blessed love & dry these tear-stained eyes; have mercy on this awful man; please hear his mournful cries. I’m sorry for all the grief I’ve cause you & everyone; forgive me, Lord, for letting down your only Son… So wash me, Lord, with your loving blood that was spilled so long ago, and welcome me unto thy bosom and comfort this poor lost soul.” …by Jack Joe Holland
2 What are our feelings when we pray Jack Joe’s prayer aloud
Today, Jesus presents us with the same challenge that he gave to the disciples: “Come follow me.” The disciples; response changed them & the world around them. That will happen to us too if we respond as they did, without hesitation or reservation. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” Our time of decision is at hand.
or even years.
But it will happen.
One by one, our thoughts will be challenged.
One by one, our ideas will change to match Jesus’ ideas.
This process of transformation may not always be easy, but it will be fruitful! If we try our best to be faithful in the little things God asks of us each day, we will be changed over time. God will form us into disciples capable of making a difference in the world, just as the apostles & prophets did. All Jesus is looking for are humble, open hearts.
The Kingdom of God is waiting for you.
Optional extra story:
A few years ago Richard Cardinal Cushing wrote about the church’s need for courage. He said:
”If all the sleeping folks will wake up, and all the lukewarm folks will fire up, and all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, and all the discouraged folks will cheer up, & all the depressed folks will look up, and all the estranged folks will make up, & all the gossiping folks will shut up, and all the dry bones will shake up, and all the church members will pray up, and if the Savior of all will be lifted up, then we can have the greatest renewal this world has ever known.” (Source:Eric S. Ritz)
DECIDE!
Jesus proclaimed, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15)
Jesus says this, but what does it mean? A humorous story is told where ….
A mother calling to her son shouted, “Johnny, tell your sister to get in the house out of the rain.” “I can’t mom,” came the reply. “And just why can’t you?” demanded his mother. “Because we are playing Noah’s Ark mom, and she’s one of the sinners.” (Source: eSermons.com) … . Aren’t we all?
Jesus is God’s response to our broken & hurting humanity.
Jesus has a specific mission, us.
Jesus tells us to repent. In Hebrew it’s shubh, meaning to return to God by turning from all else. In Greek, shubh becomes … meta-noiein, a radical change of heart, a complete about face, a resolve to reorient our entire mindset & lifestyle toward God & Jesus. Guilt & regret are not enough; repentance in order to be authentic & sustained, must be translated into a faith we profess with our life & our words. In this way, the repentant believer actually … becomes an integral, living aspect of the good news through which salvation has come to us all. (Adapted: Celebration, 1/22/12)
Then, Jesus proclaims to us ….
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men & women.”
An encounter with Jesus is a moment that demands a decision.
There are pivotal moments in our lives that affect everything else that follows. These include times of choosing an educational & career path, deciding whether to marry, or contemplating a move to another city or even another country. We cannot avoid the consequences of such decisions, because even the choice not to decide will bring consequences.The most important decision each of us faces is how to respond to God’s call. We are all challenged to decide how important God will be in our lives. How we respond affects everything else that we think and do.
Here’s a true story ….
An inmate on a Kentucky death row wrote; “Father, I come to you a bent & broken man, and humble myself before you, with no strength left to stand. I come to you from prison, from a place that’s called death row, & ask you to take pity, Lord, on this convict’s wretched soul…Replace this hate with blessed love & dry these tear-stained eyes; have mercy on this awful man; please hear his mournful cries. I’m sorry for all the grief I’ve cause you & everyone; forgive me, Lord, for letting down your only Son… So wash me, Lord, with your loving blood that was spilled so long ago, and welcome me unto thy bosom and comfort this poor lost soul.” …by Jack Joe Holland
2 What are our feelings when we pray Jack Joe’s prayer aloud
… in a subdued voice?
God entered directly into the world through Jesus, & Jesus in turn enters directly into our lives. Jesus told people when he met them that the moment of decision was at hand. They could not delay any longer. God’s reign on earth was beginning & they had to decide whether or not to be part of that.Today, Jesus presents us with the same challenge that he gave to the disciples: “Come follow me.” The disciples; response changed them & the world around them. That will happen to us too if we respond as they did, without hesitation or reservation. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” Our time of decision is at hand.
(Soorces: Living With Christ, 01/12)
At this Liturgy of Discipleship, let us remember that our God wants each of us to be witnesses to the gospel & savants of the kingdom. No matter how well educated or how dedicated we may be, God’s call will inspire us to go further. It may not be as dramatic as it was for Jack Joe Holland, the disciples or even for Jonah. It may occur over the course of many months, or even years.
But it will happen.
One by one, our thoughts will be challenged.
One by one, our ideas will change to match Jesus’ ideas.
This process of transformation may not always be easy, but it will be fruitful! If we try our best to be faithful in the little things God asks of us each day, we will be changed over time. God will form us into disciples capable of making a difference in the world, just as the apostles & prophets did. All Jesus is looking for are humble, open hearts.
The Kingdom of God is waiting for you.
Optional extra story:
A few years ago Richard Cardinal Cushing wrote about the church’s need for courage. He said:
”If all the sleeping folks will wake up, and all the lukewarm folks will fire up, and all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, and all the discouraged folks will cheer up, & all the depressed folks will look up, and all the estranged folks will make up, & all the gossiping folks will shut up, and all the dry bones will shake up, and all the church members will pray up, and if the Savior of all will be lifted up, then we can have the greatest renewal this world has ever known.” (Source:Eric S. Ritz)
DECIDE!