Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 19, 2024 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Saintly Example: St. Monica could have been a nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law, and a despairing parent. Instead, with unconditional love, strong faith, and persistent prayer, she won her pagan husband, her cantankerous mother-in-law, and her wayward son to Christianity. From a life of decadence, her son, Augustine, became a Christian at age 33, a priest at 36, and a bishop at 41. Perhaps you or someone you know is praying for a spouse, child, relative, or friend to turn or return to God and the Church they had abandoned. Let St. Monica’s example help you resist discouragement and persist in prayer and love. In his book, Confessions , St. Augustine wrote, “Too late have I loved you,” in regret of putting off for so long his commitment to serving Christ. Of course, it is never “too late,” but those of us who love Jesus and continually experience the resultant peace, joy, and empowerment of victorious living regret that we had not responded and served sooner. Second Chance: When first called by God to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, Jonah rebelled, reasoning that the pagan Ninevites were unworthy of his time to reach out to them and that God’s mercy should be reserved for only the chosen people of Israel (Jonah Chapters 1 and 2). While God wanted to give the Ninevites a chance to repent, Jonah railed at the possibility of these pagans receiving God’s favor. Instead of going to Nineveh as God commanded, he ran the other way, boarded a ship, and was thrown overboard by the crew when they discovered he was running away from God. The story continues with Jonah being swallowed by a large fish and living in its belly for three days. Why did Jonah have to learn obedience the hard way? Wouldn’t it have been easier and less painful for him to follow God’s call? How easy it is for us to make this hindsight judgment! In today’s passage, God gives Jonah a second chance, repeating the call for the prophet to go to the people of Nineveh. This time Jonah complied (wouldn’t you, today three days in the belly of a whale, tomorrow who knows what -- disobeying God is very unwise). To Jonah’s surprise and anger, the mission produced stellar results. First, instead of his mission taking three days and having a slim chance of effectiveness, in just one day and with only seven words, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed” (Jonah 3: 4), all the people of Nineveh, that pagan place, repented and enjoyed God’s forgiveness. Here are some additional things we can learn from this passage: a) God does not give up on anyone -- He keeps inviting. b) God shows no favorites. When anyone seeks His mercy and forgiveness, He answers quickly. c) God is kind, merciful, and easy to approach; just call on Him in prayer with whatever need you have. d) For greater peace and wisdom, learn from mistakes of the past (yours and others). e) Our “yes” to the Lord first impacts us, then the world around us. Lament: Psalm 25 is a lament (an expression of sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something said or done) affirming the feelings of one who has offended God. Today’s Psalm response, “Teach me your ways, O Lord,” acknowledges that God’s ways are superior to human wisdom or efforts. St. Augustine, drawing on personal experience, wrote, “The one who follows the Lord’s paths, and sees that he has been set free through no merit of his own, and takes no pride in his own efforts, will draw nearer to the Lord…for he has experienced the mercy of the one who came to his aid.” Radical Love: Paul’s newfound radical love of Jesus Christ (Acts 9) causes him to reflect on the former days of hatred for Jesus and His followers. Wishing he could redeem the time, he exclaims, “The time is running out” (1 Corinthians 7:29). Are you making good use of your time to serve the Lord faithfully? Is your service motivated by duty and exercised with mechanical precision -- or driven by passionate life- changed love for the Lord? Is your prayer, praise, and worship contingent on how well Jesus performs for you -- or is it based on His Lordship? Have you attained a comfort level of just enough religion to make you feel good, or are you hungering to be a faith witness and striving daily for conversion? Radical Example: Andrew, Peter, James, and John had deeply invested in their life’s work as fishermen. However, when Jesus called, they not only walked away from their profession but left family, friends, and equipment behind. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him offers a chance to trade worldly desires for spiritual richness. To respond radically to God’s call, to love the Lord with whole heart, soul, and mind -- nothing held back. These first disciples were in awe of Jesus in their face-to-face encounter. Are you deeply in love with Jesus? How radically are you willing to embrace his call to change? The evidence of our “love relationship” with Jesus is obedience to God’s word and a spirit of joyful service. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We see this principle lived out in the lives of the saints. So, what blessings do you impart when you give yourself for the glory of God? What difference can you make? In what ways is God offering you a second (or another) chance to get it right with Him? Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com . First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Second Reading:1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Second chances Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries Pray for all those who are suffering from the results of hurricanes and adverse weather, earthquakes, and war, especially Israel and Ukraine. Pray for peace on earth!