It is 24th January 2021. We celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God known as the Bible Sunday. The readings are from Jonah 3:1-5, 10; the second reading is from 1Corinthians 7:29-31; and the Gospel from Mark 1:14-20.
Repentance is possible for us all when we are ready to adhere the words of the Lord. We need to have a first-hand experience in listening, learning, and leaning our life on the Word of God. the people of Nineveh heard the Word of God from the preaching of Jonah and responded immediately.
One Book that we all need to treasure, and measure of life is the Word of God. It unfolds all that is going on within ourselves. It unlocks the knots of suffering and pain in our life. Do we have a copy of Bible in our homes? Does our family read and reflect the Word of God daily? It is better to have an honourable place for the Bible.
David Livingston went to Africa to preach the Word of God. When he left America, he carried with him 73 books. When he entered the jungles and bush of southern Africa, he had to travel deep into the forest meeting and sharing the Word. He could not carry all the books. So, he started to get rid of them by distributing his books one by one in all the places he preached. He could not throw one book and get rid of it. It was the Book of the Bible. He treasured the Bible and God treated Him with love and care.
Have you read the Bible once so far in your life starting from Genesis to Revelation?
Let us not read it for the sake of reading as novel. Rather we need to set apart a prayerful moment to read the Word of God for our personal and community growth.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James.1:22).
“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn.6:68).
The Word of God is not merely words printed in a book rather the Word made flesh. – Pope Francis.
God changes God’s mind when we are willing to repent. The episode of the first reading is direct challenge to each one of us. Unless we repent, we cannot obtain the blessings. “God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10).
Isaiah chapter 43: “I have called you by name, you are mine…you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you.”
Repentance is nearly impossible without listening, learning, and leaning on the Word of God. the cry of Charismatic preaching of Jesus was to repent. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” (Mk.1:5).
Without repenting, we cannot believe the Good News. Repenting is not mere conversion rather a radical change of life, priorities, and life.
To accept Good News is the first step to conversion. Personalizing them and make it our life is the culmination of conversion.
The responsorial Psalm praises, “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” (Ps.24:4).
In the second reading, St. Paul invites us to detach ourselves all that make us far from Christ. Everything we see, relate and experience in front of our eyes are passing away. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Is.40:8) The Word of God will remain and meaningful to those who want to embrace freedom and detachment.
We each one has received the call to holiness through conversion.
Last Sunday, we reflected about the call two disciples. In today’s Gospel Jesus his disciples for conversion. It happens right after the baptism of the Lord. Jesus in Galilee begins his public ministry.
A visitor was passing by the church as there were three men fully occupied braking stones and neatly polishing them. What are you doing he asked the first. He replied that he was breaking stones. He asked the same question to the second and he responded that he was trying to earn a living to take care of his family. He asked the same question to the third worker braking stones. He responded with a proud smile that he was building a Cathedral. Same work, similar profession but all three different attitudes they responded to their call differently.
We are not just reading the Word of God rather we are building our character.
A minimum 15 pages an average reader reads; a healthy reader reads at least 50 pages daily; a committed and dedicated reader reads more than 50 pages and assimilates it and make it personal.
“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.” (Rev. 19:13). “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name.” (Jer.15:16). Our daily bread needs to be the Word of God that enriches and fills the entire being. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt.4:4), and “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17).
In the Gospel Jesus tells us: “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” At once, without any hesitation and placing all the trust in Jesus, they responded.
Call for conversion and repentance are continued by Jesus right after the arrest of John the Baptist. Jesus calls us too as He called the disciples to follow Him. The remarkable thing that strikes us is their response without any hesitation and calculations. The moment they heard the call of Jesus, they left their business, family, and all that they loved for the sake of Jesus. That is called repentance. A radical response to the call of Jesus.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16). May we read the Word of God to lead our lives in truth and spirit. Have a lovely day. God bless you.