THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B.
21st January 2024
Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.
The third Sunday in ordinary time is designated as the Sunday of the Word of God. In the today’s gospel, Jesus chose fishermen as his disciples in order to show us the simplicity that is receptive to the word of God. Among the first disciples of Jesus were a pair of brothers – Simon and Andrew, James and John – who responded to his call without hesitation. Patience and openness to reality is the principle of the fisherman. An opinionated mind cannot readily heed to the word of God. Jesus promised to make them ‘fishers of men’.
According to the gospel, Jesus told them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ The complexity of the human person requires the patience and openness of the fisherman. In the first reading, Jonah could not contain his presumed stubbornness of the people of Nineveh. The vastness of the land of Nineveh – three days to cross – overwhelmed him. But after his encounter in the belly of the fish, he realized that he must be patient with the people to repent of their sins.
St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the second reading that the world as we know it is passing away. In this context, he is not being apocalyptic rather he is urging the people to realise that the time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Salvation is closer to us than in the past and we should grab the opportunity. Life changing possibilities abide in the word of God.
Fr Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.