by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB
The Scriptures on this Third Sunday in different ways show that the things of this world are passing, but instead, that following God’s will has immense and immortal value. It leads to eternal life.
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrians, mortal enemies of Israel. Jonah, the reluctant prophet, did everything he could to escape God’s plan to warn them. Finally, after nearly drowning and being tossed up on the beach by a giant fish, Jonah obeyed. He preached God’s warning so well that the ruler and people of Nineveh quickly repented in fasting and sackcloth. God relented and 120,000 lives were saved. Instead of rejoicing Jonah resented God’s mercy and forgiveness and he mourned bitterly. God’s gracious will did not correspond with his all too human desires. Better, Lord, your will.
“Teach me your ways, O Lord” (Psalm 25). God’s ways are ‘compassion, love, kindness, and goodness.’ To act with these brings happiness and peace to us and our neighbor too in this world and in the next.
To read Chapter 7 of the letter to the Corinthians is to know that Paul is not opposed to marrying, nor does he counsel disregard for one’s wife; nor does he say not to weep or rejoice when it is human nature to do so. Furthermore, he doesn’t claim that owning anything is wrong. What Paul does say is that being married or not matters not, nor rejoicing or weeping, being rich or poor, or buying things of earth. None of it matters compared to the glory of life in the world to come. Have these things or lack them but know that what really matters is our life to come, for things of this world are passing away.
“The time of fulfillment,” says Jesus, is upon us. For Him nothing is more important than that “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” There is nothing that we must cling to. Two stunning examples stress that Jesus means what he says. Peter and Andrew are fishing. James and John have finished and are helping their father to mend the nets. These four chosen ones have already met Jesus at the Jordan where the Baptist was preaching. Now Jesus calls them, and they drop everything and go. Nothing held them back.
Salvation may require detachment from much. Faith in God and the life beyond can ease the struggle.