THE URGENCY OF GOD’S CALL

Third Sunday in Ordinary Year B

(Jon 3:1-5.10, 1 Cor 7:29-31, Mk 1:14-20)

1.0. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was a great city, so large that it would take 3 days to move from one end of the city to the other (Jon 3:3). Jonah made only a day’s journey and the whole city was converted. That means it was not by the power of the prophet, it was God who inspired the people to repentance through the proclamation of Jonah. So, when we hear the call to repentance, both the preacher and listener must not forget that it is God’s call.

What did the prophet say that inspired them to repentance: “Only 40 days more and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jon 3:4). Out of fear for their lives, they repented and proclaimed a fast. Of course, God was pleased with their effort at repentance.

By saying, “only 40 days” Jonah was warning them that there is not time; they must repent now! The people of Nineveh accepted both the call to repentance and its urgency. Repentance must be now: the call to repentance and the urgency of the call always go together.

2.0. This urgency is further elaborated in the 2^nd reading. The Good News needs urgent expression in every minute of our lives. The time is limited. Therefore, we must detach ourselves from all forms of earthly attachment in order to create an inner space for the Gospel to take root, and thus, be expressed in every minute of our lives. The world as we know it is passing, even too quickly, but the word of God endures forever.

3.0. In the Gospel, Jesus began His ministry by announcing that “the time is fulfilled” and “the Kingdom of God is near”—hence, today is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2)—so “repent and believe in the Gospel”. This message carries both the call to repentance and the sense of urgency that Jonah proclaimed.

This urgency is once more exhibited in the call of the first apostles. Jesus saw the fishermen casting their nets, He called them and they followed Him at once. This immediate response comes at a great price: they left behind their business and their father...This price is greater than that which the people of Nineveh made in response to Jonah’s preaching. How possible is it that such quick response can be made to the call of Jesus and at such a great price? We find the answer in the nature of Jesus’ call.

4.0. Jesus calls with authority, almost as a command: “Come after me...” And all who hear Jesus’ call will always feel this impelling force pulling him/her from within, such that answering the call becomes, in a way, subjecting oneself to His authority. If one subjects him/herself to this authority, it becomes easy for him/her to make this immediate response, leaving behind any other attachments. The authority of Jesus’ call comes with a sense of urgency, and the response, which is a ‘bowing’ to that authority, must follow suit.

Repentance is always the first step. Jesus calls for repentance, but in the call of His apostles He calls for something more; He calls for discipleship—to communion with Him. Jonah called the people of Nineveh to abandon their evil ways. But the apostles were doing something good when Jesus called them—fishing! Still, the call to discipleship demands detachment from what in the eyes of the world is a necessary pre-occupation. Hence St Paul says “those who have spouses should live as though they have none...this world as we know it is passing away” (1 Cor 7:29). We see here that the demands of discipleship go deeper. It may be easier to “declare a fast” or “put on sackcloth” (Jon 3:5) than to leave one’s earthly “fishing nets” at once and follow Jesus (Mk 1:18).

Further, the people of Nineveh responded to the prophet’s call out of fear—fear of destruction. Now, the call to discipleship comes even within our rightful engagements. So, our response will no longer be out fear but out of love. It is only when we respond in love can it be possible to leave behind immediately our fishing nets, boats, parents, etc to follow Jesus. But this love-response is possible only because Jesus Himself calls out of love: “Come after me and I will make you into fishers of men” (Mk 1:17). The tone of the call underlies His love—His personal commitment, His self-outpouring to the one He calls. The love of Christ overwhelms us...(2 Cor 5:14). Therefore, the call to discipleship is embedded with Jesus quick, immediate and total love. This is where the urgency of the call takes its root. The one who answers this call “at once” becomes the one who has come in contact with such love. In other words, the authority with which Jesus calls becomes the authority of His love.

“...Something greater than Jonah is here” (Mt 12:41). The Kingdom of God has come close to us. “...the time has come...our salvation is nearer than when we first began to believe” (Rm 13:11). If we have heard the call to be part of God’s Kingdom, our response must be now!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St Anthony Catholic Church, Jabi,

Abuja, Nigeria.

Sunday, 22 January, 2012.