Basic HTML Version
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Summary
Who doesn’t love the story of Jonah? The part we heard in today’s reading was about
the great conversion of the Ninevites. Jonah was a great preacher. In the response we
call upon God to teach us God’s ways. In the short passage from Corinthians Paul, calls
us to prepare our lives for Jesus’ second coming. Which in some ways, segways right
into the Gospel when John the Baptist retreats and the Jesus begins his ministry.
Reflection
“Repent and believe.” This is the command that Jesus enjoins us with today. Turn away
from sin to the truth of Jesus Christ present in his word. Like the apostles who are called
on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus also calls us to come after him. As Jesus transforms the
apostle’ human profession, Christ likewise calls us in the midst of our work and trans-
form our efforts for the glory of God.
Recently I spent some time with some wonderful women and men who make it their min-
istry to share faith with children in Holy Family School. They are professional people and
homemakers. When asked, “what is the most important thing they do with their lives”?
not a one of them said, “Move up the corporate ladder.” Nor did they say, “get this or
that.” Unanimously they said, “The efforts I spend on my children.”
How are our efforts for our loved ones achieved? I do not have all the answers but I
would like to share this fable.
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole, which he
carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was
perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the
stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the water bearer delivering only one and a
half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot
was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only
half of what it had been made to do.