| << Sunday, January 23, 2000 >> |
3rd Sunday Ordinary Time
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Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 View Readings |
Psalm 25 Mark 1:14-20 Similar Reflections |
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DROP EVERYTHING |
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| "Jesus said to them, 'Come after Me.' " —Mark 1:17 |
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Jesus is here. Drop everything. Imitate the Ninevites who stopped the workings of their whole society in order to fast, put on sackcloth, and repent (Jon 3:5). When Simon and Andrew met Jesus, they dropped their fishing business (Mk 1:18). James and John did the same thing in addition to leaving behind their father, Zebedee (Mk 1:20). Because Jesus is here and will come again in glory, husbands should live as though they did not have wives (1 Cor 7:29), that is, they should at times temporarily abstain from marital relations so that they can pray and fast (1 Cor 7:5). Those who are weeping or rejoicing (1 Cor 7:30) should stop thinking about how they feel, because "the time is short" (1 Cor 7:29) and "the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mk 1:15, our transl). Moreover, those who are buyers and involved in the world's system (see 1 Cor 7:30-31) need to start financial planning for the time when a person will not be allowed "to buy or sell anything unless he was first marked with the name of the beast" (Rv 13:17). "The world as we know it is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31). Christ has died. Drop everything. Christ is risen. Drop everything. Christ will come again. Drop everything. Jesus is Lord! |
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| Prayer: Father, free me from being possessed by my possessions. |
| Promise: "Repent and believe in the Gospel." —Mk 1:15, our transl. |
| Praise: Praise Jesus, the only Way to the Father! Praise Jesus, risen from the dead! Praise Jesus, soon to come. |
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| Nihil obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 21, 1999 |
| Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1999 |
The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration
that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error.
It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur
agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed. |
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