SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG, JANUARY 20TH, 2024) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5;10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5ab;6 and 7bc;8-9 (R. 4a)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Gospel Acclamation: Psalm 24:4,5
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

Lawrence Anorue

MY REFLECTION

God Can Also Call Me And You

The call of these men, in the gospel story, at their workplace, has a lot of significance to me– God can call anyone from any profession to His service. He only needs to touch me and make me worthy of His call/service.

I don't have to first be worthy. No! He makes 'worthiness' out of my unworthiness, so I should not be afraid to answer when He calls to delegate me.

I'm ready Lord, make me a fisher of men too, Amen 🙏

Agnes Hanmaikyur

MY REFLECTION

What Is Delaying My Total Commitment To The Propagation Of The Good News?

In the Gospel Reading of the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Mark 1: 14-20), we are presented with an incredible demonstration of spontaneous and absolute decision by Simon, Andrew, James and John to do the will of God at Christ's invitation.

Imagine that you are asked to leave your regular source of livelihood in order to become available for the propagation of the Gospel– that would be extremely difficult and even your loved ones may consider you as being out of your mind.

While everyone may not be required to leave everything and follow Christ in the literal sense of the word, everyone who preaches the Gospel in their words, thoughts and actions, in and out of season, whether they are accepted or persecuted, whether it is easy or difficult, can be said to be demonstrating the kind of extraordinary faith and commitment the early disciples and apostles including Simon, Andrew, James and John demonstrated when Christ called them.

Even though the circumstances in which we are called, today, to witness to the Gospel may be different from those of the apostles during Jesus' earthly journey, the quality of faith and commitment that is required to respond to Jesus' call is basically the same– we must not argue with God; we must make tough decisions that are pleasing to God against all odds, even when they make us appear like abnormal people before relations, friends and others.

May God give us the special grace of the quality of faith and commitment lived by the early disciples and apostles of Christ, that we may exercise total abandonment to His holy will at all times and in every situation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Kuyoro Paul

MY REFLECTION

As the church celebrates the Sunday of the word, God has also instructed us to pass His message to those who are not doing his will just as we saw in the first reading...

Jonah went to the city of Nineveh to preach God's message/word to them and they turned away from their evil ways. There are so many persons out there who are yet to repent of their evil ways because the right message is yet to get across to them. 

The church in her wisdom this day reminds us and saddled us again with that responsibility just as Jonah, to go out and proclaim the good news of love and repentance to people who do no know God yet, so they can live.

Jesus himself preached the Gospel of His heavenly father which made the first four disciples follow him. We too are called to do the same and make people truly know God both in our actions and words just as the second reading reiterated that the appointed time is now as no one knows tomorrow.

Let us not be discouraged or afraid of proclaiming the word of God and may God in his infinite mercy help us to do that which is good at all times, Amen.

Nwafor Cecilia

MY REFLECTION

The Call Which Every Christian Is Expected To Answer.

In the first reading, Jonah went to the people of Nineveh to proclaim the massage of repentance and when the people heard Jonah, they immediately cried to God by declaring a fast and putting on sackcloth to show how deeply sorry they are. Just like the second reading said, there is no time to check time.

As Christians, we are meant to act like the people of Nineveh and stop procrastinating– we must turn away from that sinful act that we indulge in, because tomorrow may be too late.

Chris-Marie Obi

MY REFLECTION

"The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand..."

The Ninevites heard this once from Jonah and they repented.

John the Baptist preached the same message of repentance, the people heard him and repented.

Now, it's my turn...

How many times have I heard or read the message/God's myself? 

Have I repented? 

Once again, we are being called to repentance. The Kingdom of God is near and repentance is all that we need to inherit it.

May I also like Peter and his brethren, become fishers of men; may I take the message of the kingdom to the people.