Ordinary Time: 3rd Sunday After Epiphany, January 25, 2015

Collect for the Day

 

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflections: A theme running through these readings is calling/vocation. Most Episcopalians are not asked to knock on doors or preach on street corners (a fact that gives me endless relief). No, we are called to the much more difficult task of communicating the gospel by living it out. I am reminded of St. Francis’ profound exhortation to his brothers: “Preach always; use words if necessary.”

First Lesson: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Reflection: This selection from the story of Jonah only hints at the prophet’s struggle against what God had asked him to do. That the word of the Lord came the second time reminds us how hard Jonah worked to avoid the call to warn the Ninevites of God’s impending wrath. Nineveh was the equivalent of an international bully, having caused extensive death and suffering, and Jonah wanted it to reap the fullness of God’s wrath. And Jonah knew that if the people of Nineveh repented, God would forgive them.

As you remember, Jonah took a ship to escape, but of course God was there, too. When the crew realized that they had been in trouble from the time Jonah joined the voyage, they threw him overboard. But even drowning was no refuge; Jonah was swallowed by a huge sea creature, spending three days reflecting on the meaning of his life in the dark, smelly belly of the beast. And then the fish vomited him up on the shore, where he at last made his way to the city he hated, finally exercising a ridiculously effective ministry. As we read above, the wicked repent, God does indeed forgive them, and (as the story continues), Jonah ends up more resentful than ever.

Jonah’s struggle arises because he rejects his calling. He resents God’s mercy because it violates his judgment. After all, nobody wants a bully to get off scot-free; he needs to pay for his crimes; he should be punished. So naturally, Jonah is outraged that God would forgive a people who had caused so much pain. Jonah has a right to anger and resentment, and he clings to it. The problem is that Jonah is called to be larger than he is. And like many of us (me, at least) he grows kicking and screaming.

Mother Karen asked, “What is Nineveh for each of us?” What do we avoid, that God places before us?

 

Psalm 62:6-14 Nonne Deo?

For God alone my soul in silence waits; * truly, my hope is in him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, * my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honor; * God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O people, * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, * even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
On the scales they are lighter than a breath, * all of them together.
Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; * though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, * that power belongs to God.
Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, * for you repay everyone according to his deeds.

Reflection: And what or who do we trust in? How can God help us pry our fingers loose?

 

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Reflections: To be fair, St. Paul expected the world to end any moment, a stance that  would seem to reduce the importance of everyday activities. While nowadays few of us expect the Second Coming (however we might conceive it) just any moment now, it is still be helpful to remember that we live in the context of eternity.

Sometimes our troubles overwhelm us, dominate us as though they were the last word on who we are, what life means. Under the tyranny of the everyday, we can treat others (and ourselves) like objects, like means to an end. Our goals can consume us and make us restless, ever focused on the future, but impatient with what is going on right now. At their worst, our problems can isolate us and bring us to the brink of despair.

St. Paul invites us to take a step back, to take ourselves a little less seriously, to remember that the true meaning our lives, our very selves, is found in God.

 

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Reflections: It seems to me that John’s imprisonment on the very day the “Kingdom has come near” is an odd start. You and I already know that Jesus’ first sermon about releasing the captives was already “fulfilled in [the] hearing” of those gathered in the synagogue that day. Instead of receiving a reward, God’s prophet will soon be murdered in prison, and we know what happens to Jesus within three short years. The oppressors appear to be winning; the heroes don’t seem to be doing too well. At least, as far as my expectations might lead me to believe.

Historically in Israel, the Day of the Lord was understood to bring prosperity and peace. The poor and downtrodden were promised relief. Ironically, the well-off Hebrews who took advantage of the weak also saw it as a promise, largely ignoring the prophets who warned that That Day would bring judgment. But then, it’s difficult to face criticism, especially for those who thought they were the ones basking God’s blessing. Their expectations were out of line with God.

          When John and Jesus appeared, a host of expectations made it difficult to receive their message, as well. The fear John inspired in Herodias deafened her to his message. And as for Jesus, well, some expected the messiah to be a revolutionary who would lead the Hebrew people to victory over Rome, and felt betrayed when that wasn’t the kind of revolutionary he turned out to be.
          Knowing the full story, I have to admit that I’m surprised when I really pay attention to these lines in Mark’s gospel; my expectations too are overthrown. To speak truth to power remains as dangerous at the time of John and Jesus’ ministry as before it. So just what is this Kingdom that has drawn near? And what does it have to do with me?
          What if the Kingdom has nothing to do with reward and punishment? What if it has everything to do with compassion for weakness and the courage to speak truth to power? Could it be that John and Jesus both show us that our vocation is so great that it exceeds even the worst that can be done to us in retaliation? Could it be that the Kingdom itself exceeds all our expectations?