[Part 1 of 2]The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More on Jan. 26 for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
What season are we in? Well, the calendar and this current frigid weather point clearly to the season of winter. From the perspective of the liturgical or Church year, we are in Ordinary Time; the green vestments signify this time of hope and growth. Today's Scripture readings project a lenten theme though Lent does not begin until March 5.
Actually, the theme sounds so lenten because it is, in fact, basic to our living the faith: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” For St. Mark, the author of the Gospel from which today's passage is taken, the Gospel is identified with the person of Jesus. So, believing is not something merely in the head; it is deeply personal " indeed, interpersonal " in the heart. For St. Mark, when people come face to face with Jesus, two things are required: repentance or conversion and faith understood as a following of Jesus, discipleship. In summary, our response to Jesus means repenting and believing, which implies following Him.
God's Word today, especially in the first and third readings, outline this process of repentance, believing and following. First, God takes the initiative. Jesus calls two sets of brothers to leave everything and follow Him: Peter and Andrew, James and John. Jonah is sent by God to the people of Nineveh to invite them to repent. Secondly, there is a human response; this response can only be freely given and results in a radical change. These two sets of brothers freely leave their family and occupation; they freely take up a new and radical way of living. The people of Nineveh freely put on sackcloth, the sign of repentance, and change their way of living. Thirdly, both the first disciples and the Ninevites began to follow the Lord; their repenting led to their believing, which implied their following.
Repenting and believing: this is the basic rhythm of our entire Christian life. Sometimes, we mistakenly think that repenting is a one-time event. Some years ago, a postcard arrived from a friend, which had in big bright letters at the top: “Repent and Be Saved.” Then, in the lower right hand corner in smaller letters were these words: “If you have already repented, please disregard this notice.” However, everyday calls us to repent " to turn more to the Lord and to believe " to follow Him with the totality of our being.
There must be no hesitation on our part as we hear again this basic summons to repent and to believe. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that the present time is precious and not to be wasted: “I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. " For the world in its present form is passing away.”
