Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 24, 2021

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Listen for these themes in Sunday’s readings: God’s love is steadfast: When we do wrong, when we repent, return and hear God’s good news, God is quick to forgive and welcome us back.

Jonah preaching to the people of Nineveh (17th century), oil painting on canvas by Andrea Vaccaro (1604-1670). Museo de Bellas Artes of Seville, Spain. Click image to enlarge.)

In the first reading we hear the ancient story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, who ran away when God called him to prophesy to the people of Nineveh, and ended up taking an unwanted journey in a giant fish. Now, spewed out on the beach, Jonah feels more cooperative. The prophecy that God commanded him to give has great effect: All the people of this great city accept Jonah’s call to fast and repent! Then God shows forgiving mercy, and decides not to destroy the people after all. (In the following verses that conclude this short book, Jonah is more than angry about this turn of events, but God’s mercy abides.)

Psalm: Psalm 62: 6-14

Wait for God, hope in God, the Psalmist sings. Trust God above all else. When all others fail, God, our strong rock and our refuge, will reward our trust in God’s power and steadfast love. Others cannot be trusted, the Psalmist tells us over and over again: “On the scales they are lighter than a breath.” But God is always there, always holding the power, always ready to repay us all according to our good deeds.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31

Much like last week’s reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul’s instructions to the Christians of Corinth sound daunting and harsh. Give up our husbands and wives? Don’t buy possessions, mourn our dead or rejoice our victories? This passage makes clear why we must be more than cautious about reading Paul’s directions to his First Century flock as if they direct our activity in the 21st. Hear these verses in Paul’s context: He was certain that this world was passing away as the Kingdom of God drew near; he was sure that Christ would return very soon, bringing a new way of life. Nothing was more important than that; not husbands and wives, not mourning or joy.

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

The public ministry of Jesus as told by Mark has begun! On the first Sunday after Epiphany we heard Mark’s account of John baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan, when a dove came down from heaven declaring to Jesus that he is the son of God. Now in Sunday’s Gospel events are moving fast. John has been arrested, and Jesus has taken over John’s call to prophesy repentance and declare the good news of God’s kingdom. Then Jesus calls his first disciples, who follow him immediately without any discussion or question, and the long journey toward the cross and resurrection begins.