As we enter the third Sunday of the ordinary time, the church serves as a constant reminder that our time here on Earth is precious and fleeting. This is the common thread connecting all three of Sunday's readings. We must not cling tenaciously to this world that is swiftly fading away if time is limited. On the contrary, we ought to put our faith in the gospel and devote our lives to God's kingdom.
To the Ninevites, Jonah said in the first reading, "Only forty days, and Nineveh will be destroyed”. Everyone in the city, even the rulers, repented after hearing Jonah's message. Despite Jonah's desire to see the city destroyed rather than repent, the pagans found favor with God. It would be a surprise to us today to know that there was always animosity between the tribes of Israel and the people of Nineveh. Yet these people heeded the words of a Hebrew prophet when they knew that their days on earth were numbered.
"The kingdom of God is at hand," Christ said in today's gospel, echoing the dire messages of Jonah and John the Baptist. Hear the gospel and turn from your sins. The disciples of Christ, like the Ninevites, listened to the message and acted quickly in response, each one attentive and aware that time was of the essence. After hearing the Lord say, "Follow me," the disciples did what He said. We find it a little unusual how we can talk about remorse and good news all at once. As a culture, we often link penance with feelings of shame and the practice of penances. Of course, the good news that Jesus preached was that God's kingdom was 'near at hand,' that God's dream of a society free from violence, hatred, and misery was about to come to pass. This could only take place when individuals realized they were lacking something and made room in their hearts for God's future to be realized. To live in a world under God's rule, one must undergo a personal transformation. A heart prepared for this kind of environment is what repentance is all about. Rather than dwelling on wrongdoings of the past or shaming oneself into submission, it is about desiring a better life and being ready to walk humbly into the future God has planned for us. Conversion, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, is at the center of it.
Despite the fact that people hope for a brighter tomorrow, they often struggle to accept change and move on from the past. The thought of undergoing so much change is overwhelming to many otherwise well intentioned people. However, we should remember that repentance is primarily a result of God's grace. We hope for it because of that. However, we can do something to make things easier. The most significant road blocks to repentance often stem from our fundamental attitudes toward change, so it's a good place to start.
The first road block to repentance (read as embracing God’s grace for transformation) is constant thought of pessimism that despite my best efforts, nothing has changed so far, and the future is not going to be different. Reflecting on numerous examples of persons who have climbed out of the pit of despair to saintly lives must give us the incentive that “with God everything is possible.”
Complacency is the second attitude that comes as a road block to many and prevents them from embracing change. A self-satisfied individual would assert, "I'm fine just the way I am." That mindset was prevalent during Christ's time and continues to this day. During the precontemplation stage of transformation, people are not considering a change. People in this stage are often described as "in denial," because they claim that their behavior is not a problem. In some cases, people in this stage do not understand that their behavior is damaging, or they are under-informed about the consequences of their actions. Once habits of sin are paved hard, it becomes very difficult to stir up a desire for change.
A third factor that hinders individuals from breaking out of their routines and making positive changes is fear. Among people who have put their faith in Christ, it is likely the most prevalent attitude. Where may we end up if we were to be completely devoted to Jesus? It wasn't easy for the saints who sought to follow Jesus carefully. Anxieties among the followers is a common theme in the gospels. Jesus, it seems, is sensitive to their plight and goes to great lengths to allay their anxieties. Our path through life is likely to be accompanied by fear, particularly of the unknown and the novel. Nevertheless, we can overcome our concerns by admitting they exist and seeking the Lord's strength to press on in His calling. Consider Christ's exhortation to turn from our sins and put our faith in God's plan for our future; He has promised to be with us at all times, especially in the worst of times.
Why fritter away our limited time on hatred, sin, and pursuing worldly possessions when the kingdom of God is near and our time here on earth is limited? Our purpose should be to seek God and worship Him, to love and live in harmony with one another, and to make a positive impact on the world around us. There is a pressing need for us to "desire what is good and pure, what is noble and true" during this brief lifetime (Phil 4:8). Fr Tom Kunnel, C.O.