Sunday, January 22, 2012 (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood Thy testimonies O Lord: I have seen and end of all perfection: Thy commandment is exceeding broad.
-- Psalm cxviii. 95-96

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
(Jonah Obeys the Lord)
1 The word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying,
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across.
4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 
5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God repented of the evil which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.
Psalms: Psalm 25:4-9
4 Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.
6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, For they are from old times.
7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, For your goodness’ sake, Yahweh. 
8 Good and upright is Yahweh, Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married;
30 those who weep, as though they were not sad; those who laugh, as though they were not happy; those who buy, as though they did not own what they bought;
31 those who deal in material goods, as though they were not fully occupied with them. For this world, as it is now, will not last much longer.
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
(Jesus Calls Four Fishermen)
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.