Are you ready?

Pic credit: thecathedrallagos.org

Daily Reading for Sunday January 21, 2018

Reading 1- Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Reading 2- First Corinthians 7:29-31
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel- Mark 1:14-20

Today, we are reminded that the time is
short and the kingdom of God is at hand.

Jonah upon hearing the word of the Lord went to Nineveh and cried against that city. The people heard his words and believed God. They turned from their sins and God forgave them.

Saint Paul in the Second reading, like Jonah, continued that cry. He reminds us that the form of this world is passing away and that the appointed time has grown very short.


Jesus, upon the arrest of John the Baptist, preached to the people that; the kingdom of God is at hand. In fulfillment of the scriptures, He urges us to repent and believe in the gospel.

Without delay, he started calling His disciples. Of great importance is the call of Simon and Andrew, James and John. Unlike Jonah, upon being called to discipleship, they left all they were doing and followed the Messiah immediately.

Jesu is calling us today. It doesn't mean a call to walk along the road of Isreal with him. We are called to serve in the course of our jobs or daily activities. The truth is, sometimes due to the nature of our jobs, (eg. soldiers, doctors, lawyers, volunteers and so on) we get to leave family and friends behind in response to the call to serve our nation, a call to duty; a quest for knowledge, fun or more money.

The question is; can we do same in our bid to serve God? As Christians, do we respond to God's call with the same immediacy? Are you living for God or for that career or person?

God wants us to enjoy our daily activities but we must not forget to offer such activities as a sacrifice to Him. Seeing God in that activity is the only way we can answer His call and be able to resist immorality, corruption, greed, avarice and everything evil. It can also be a call to decline an offer or proposal for the sake of His kingdom.

We must learn to live for God and be ready to detach ourselves from anything or anyone that would separate or lead us away from the kingdom of God. We can only achieve this with the help of the Messiah.

The kingdom of God is at hand. Are you ready?

If you wish to publish your Sunday reflection on Nikkyivy's blog, kindly send it to - nikyjone@gmail.com on or before Saturday of every week. Only approved reflections will be published. Thank you