Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

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Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

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Title: Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

1
Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

January 25, 2015
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time B
In preparation for this Sundays Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo. R. Almazan, OFM
2
1st Reading Jonah 3,1-5.10

1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second
time 2 "Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell
you." 3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding. Now Nineveh was
an enormously large city it took three days to
go through it. 4 Jonah began his journey through
the city, and had gone but a single day's walk
announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be
destroyed," 5 when the people of Nineveh
believed God they proclaimed a fast and all of
them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 10 When
God saw by their actions how they turned from
their evil way, he repented of the evil that he
had threatened to do to them he did not carry it
out.

The focus is on repentance.
3
1st Reading Jonah 3,1-5.10
The reading is re-indented for easier analysis.

Local Setting take two
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second
time (In chapter 1, Jonah did not report for
duty. He did not obey God, unbecoming of a
prophet. Now God commands again)
Command
2 "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and
announce to it the message that I will tell you."
Execution
3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding. (This time Jonah
obeys.)
Setting expanse of Nineveh
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city it took
three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began his
journey through the city, and had gone but a
single day's walk announcing,
Proclamation
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
Response of the people Repentance
5 When the people of Nineveh believed God, they
proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and
small, put on sackcloth. (fasting and sackcloth
signs of repentance)
Gods response changes his mind
10 When God saw by their actions how they turned
from their evil way, he repented of the evil that
he had threatened to do to them he did not carry
it out. (This is problematic to many Can God
change his mind? We must understand that the
biblical authors sometimes present God behaving
like a human being. Can we not allow them to do
it? In the creation story, we call this
anthropomorphism.)

4
1st Reading Jonah 3,1-5.10

Local Setting take two
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second
time
Command
2 "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and
announce to it the message that I will tell you."
Execution
3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding.
Setting expanse of Nineveh
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city it took
three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began his
journey through the city, and had gone but a
single day's walk announcing,
Proclamation
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
Response of the people Repentance
5 When the people of Nineveh believed God, they
proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and
small, put on sackcloth. (fasting and sackcloth
signs of repentance)
Gods response changes his mind
10 When God saw by their actions how they turned
from their evil way, he repented of the evil that
he had threatened to do to them he did not carry
it out.

Commentary
In chapter 1, Jonah did not report for duty. He
did not obey God unbecoming of a prophet. Now,
God commands again.
In v.1, God attempts again to send Jonah to
Nineveh. God does not take NO for an answer.
V.2 articulates what God said to Jonah.
In v.3, Jonah prepares and goes. This time Jonah
obeys.
V.3b describes the city very large, impressive
(in those days).
In v.4, upon arrival, Jonah begins to preach
right away.
In v.5, the people repent. They respond to the
foreigner, Jonah.
They fast and put on a sackcloth.
In v.10, God interprets their actions as signs of
repentance.
He also changes his mind.

5
Reflections on the 1st reading

Repentance is turning away from evil.
We stop violating the rights of others, etc., and
the rights of God.
We need prophets (teacher, priest, activist) to
shake us, to move our conscience, to touch our
heart.
Have you changed because a prophet came to
correct you?

6
Resp. Ps 254-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.4 Your ways,
O LORD, make known to meteach me your paths,5
Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are
God my savior.
6 Remember that your compassion, O LORD,and your
love are from of old.7 In your kindness remember
me,because of your goodness, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORDthus he shows
sinners the way.9 He guides the humble to
justiceand teaches the humble his way.

7
Resp. Ps 254-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.4 Your ways,
O LORD, make known to meteach me your paths,5
Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are
God my savior.
6 Remember that your compassion, O LORD,and your
love are from of old.7 In your kindness remember
me,because of your goodness, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORDthus he shows
sinners the way.9 He guides the humble to
justiceand teaches the humble his way.

Commentary
In vv.4-5, the psalmist prays that he may learn
Gods ways.
Gods ways lead to the truth.
In vv.6-7, the psalmist prays for Gods
compassion, love, and kindness.
He recognizes himself as a sinner.
In vv.8-9, the psalmist affirms the Lord, who is
responsive.
God is good.
He shows sinners the right paths. V.8
He guides the humble (lowly, poor) to attain
justice. V.9

8
Reflections on the Psalm

Like the Psalmist, we should pray to find the
right paths.
We must recognize that we have many questionable
decisions, moves, etc. that put us and others to
danger, with costly consequences.
Humbly, we ask for guidance.
In prayer, we discern where God is leading us to
justice.
Do you pray? Is God part of your agenda?
Is your behavior improving?

9
2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,29-31

29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not
having them, 30 those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as
not owning, 31 those using the world as not
using it fully. For the world in its present form
is passing away.

The theme is the temporariness of this world.
10
2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,29-31
The reading is re-indented for easier reading and
analysis.

29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let
those having wives act as not having them, 30
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning, 31
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing
away.

11
2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,29-31

29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let
those having wives act as not having them, 30
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning, 31
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing
away.

Commentary
In the reading, we get a taste of Pauls
eschatology (theology of end times).
Belief in the end times is translated into 5
behaviors.
Is there anything wrong with having a wife,
weeping, rejoicing, buying, etc?
Nothing really, but the challenge of Paul is that
Christians should pay attention to what is
coming, not to what we are preoccupied with
right now.

12
Reflections on the second reading

Many of us are engaged in many activities.
Though legitimate, like loving a wife or ones
family, being in solidarity with the disaffected
and celebrating with those who receive Gods
blessings, treating ourselves with a new dress or
pair of shoes, we must not forget that we are
living in a passing world.
We must participate in the birthing of the new
world, designed by God.
We must know Gods design to be able to engage
properly.
Who will help you know Gods design? The
tele-evangelist, your favorite religious website,
etc?
We, Catholics, discern Gods great plan through
our Church.

13
Gospel Reading Mk 1,14-20

14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to
Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God 15 "This
is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is
at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." 16
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon
and his brother Andrew casting their nets into
the sea they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to
them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers
of men." 18 Then they abandoned their nets and
followed him. 19 He walked along a little
farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and
his brother John. They too were in a boat mending
their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left
their father Zebedee in the boat along with the
hired men and followed him.

The focus is the kingdom of God.
14
Gospel Reading Mk 1,14-20
The reading is re-indented for easier analysis.

Proclamation of Gods kingdom
14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to
Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God
15 "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
gospel."
Calling of disciples
16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their
nets into the sea they were fishermen.
17 Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will
make you fishers of men."
18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed
him.
19 He walked along a little farther and
saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother
John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
20 Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

15
Gospel Reading Mk 1,14-20

Commentary
V.14 indicates the time when Jesus begins his
ministry.
After the arrest of John the Baptist.
Also, after spending a 40-day retreat in the
desert, overcoming temptations.
His ministry consists in proclaiming the gospel
(good news) of God. What is it?
V.15 spells it out. God talks about establishing
his kingdom here on earth. The proper response of
the prepared listener is repentance and faith.
V.15 is not just one of the verses in Mark, but a
very important one. It provides the general theme
All the succeeding activities, preaching and the
healings of Jesus, including his suffering and
death and resurrection, must be understood in
this context.
We must imagine Jesus carrying this banner or
placard wherever he goes. It contains his
battlecry, manifesto, platform.

Proclamation of Gods kingdom
14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to
Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God

15 "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
gospel."
16
Gospel Reading Mk 1,14-20

Calling of disciples
16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their
nets into the sea they were fishermen.
17 Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will
make you fishers of men."
18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed
him.
19 He walked along a little farther and
saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother
John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
20 Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

Commentary, cont
In v.16, Jesus sees the first disciples.
They are identified as Simon and Andrew. They are
brothers. They are fishermen, working, casting
their nets.
In v.17, Jesus calls them to follow him for a new
and different job.
In v.18, without questions, they follow him.
In v.19, Jesus sees James and John, sons of
Zebedee, working, mending their nets.
In v.20, Jesus calls them.
Like the first two, they, too, follow Jesus.
They leave their father and the crew.

17
Reflections on the gospel

Like the first disciples, we, Christians, are
called to participate in the mission of Christ.
Our mission is to proclaim the good news and
establish Gods kingdom.
We, Christians, are not bystanders.
To engage fully, we must leave our loved ones and
belongings behind. Be detach from them.
Are you an evangelizer with a lot of freedom to
follow Christ?
Are you willing to be the standard bearer of
Christ?

18
Tying the three readings and Psalms

The first reading tells of the need to repent
from evil deeds or elsedestruction. (very
negative, threatening)
The psalm prays for guidance to right paths.
The second reading tells of the need to change
priorities (repent) because of the coming end.
(negative also, threatening)
The gospel reading asks us to repent because of
the kingdom of God. (positive, encouraging)

19
How to develop your homily / sharing

Have you been invited to enter the seminary or
the convent?
Or, have you been tempted to join a congregation?
Whether you are a priest, religious or lay, you
are called to participate in the mission of
Christ, by virtue of your baptism.
The Church, in which you are a member, serves the
interests of the kingdom of God.
According to the readings, what is our mission?

In the first reading, we are called to preach
repentance.
Like Jonah, we have to follow Gods instructions.
We have to report to work no matter how hard,
distant and time consuming it is.
Our mission is to induce sincere repentance and
make people go back to God.
We cannot dispel Gods threat for the
unrepentant. (Destruction).
Sin leads to perdition.
Can you tell your kids, friends and neighbors,
that if they dont make up, they will break up?
There are consequences if you dont.

In the gospel reading, we must realize that
missionary work is not voluntary.
It is an invitation. It is a calling.
It is Christ who calls, Come, follow me.
We respond right away without ifs and buts,
without dillydallying.
We dont delay because Christ is always on the
go, holding his banner, The kingdom of God is at
hand. Repent

In the second reading, to be effective
evangelizers, we must know our priorities. We
must have higher values.
We must not be bogged down by lesser concerns.
We must see a greater good than just the good of
our family, wife and friends, club or parish.
Our horizon must encompass community and global
concerns.
We must go beyond our old world, which is passing
now, and contribute to the completion of the new
world.

How are you as a Christian?
Are you involved in the Church?
Can you work with your fellow evangelizers?
Are you proud to join in the mission of Christ in
the context of your Church?
How much time do you dedicate for your formation?
How much time do you do community service?
How many people have you brought back to the
Church, to God?

The eucharist is the reward of our missionary
work.
We can pretty well say our mission is successful,
when the people we touch, now receive the
eucharist properly disposed and with sincere
hearts.
No one should be allowed to pose as a missionary
if he does not receive, show respect to the holy
eucharist.

25
Our Context of Sin and Grace