Second Sunday after the Epiphany

“Believe in the good news"

 

 

 

1The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.



Jonah 3:1-5, 10

 

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Jonah

RATNER, Phillip

http://www.ratnermuseum.org/page/heroes

 

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 Real dialogue is where two or more people

become willing to suspend their certainty

in each other’s presence.

~ David Bohm

 

 

 

A real decision is measured by the fact

that you’ve taken new action.

If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.

~ Tony Robbins

 

 

 

 

 

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Happy 4th Birthday, Ray Yoshioka in Tokyo

 

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Rebecca Martin is again at the Buddhist Nunnery in India where she is in her sixth or seventh year of teaching from September to February.  Four of the senior nuns were given the title Khenmo by Khamtrul Rinpoche. This means that they have successfully completed 10 – 12 years of study plus at least 3 years of teaching. A very exciting event.

 

 

Chew and Chat at Mt. Vernon Canyon Club

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Sondra Kellogg, Carolyn Alexander, Karla Byrd, Marilee Ross

 

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Frosted Trees

Mt. Blue Sky in the background … formerly Mt. Evans

 

Dine-Around with the Moores

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Patti Stone, Mande Moore Mischler

 

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Mande Mischler, Ann Moore, Patrice Henning

 

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Oh, YUM!!!

A delightful evening of sparkling conversation with sparkling people!

 

 

 

Poetry has never been the language of barriers,

It's always been the language of bridges.

~ Amanda Gorman

 

 

 

 

January 21, 2024  Third Sunday after the Epiphany Year B

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

 

 

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Mark 1:14-20

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

JONAH

 

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Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

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Psalm 62

1For God alone my soul waits in silence from him comes my salvation.

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LECTIONARY

Jonah 3:1–5, 10 

Psalm 62:5–12

1 Corinthians 7:29–31 

Mark 1:14–20

 

 

Summary

The same Spirit is at work when Jonah preaches to the Ninevites and the Lord calls the disciples. And so the same results are seen. The Assyrian people, with no background knowledge or reason to believe the word of the Israelite God, somehow believe it and turn from their evil ways. In the same way, the disciples follow Jesus without questions, responding to call of the Word. When Jesus refers to “The Sign of Jonah” in Luke 11, he means this self-authenticating property of the words of God.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

THE WORD:

The day of the Messiah has dawned; but newness demands change: a “turning away” (the original meaning of the word repentance) from business as usual and a complete trust in the life and love of God.  Simon and Andrew’s “abandoning” of their nets and James' and John’s “abandoning” of their father in today's Gospel illustrate the total trust and commitment Jesus demands of those who would be his disciples.

HOMILY POINTS:

To follow Christ means “abandoning our nets” of self-interest to embrace the needs of others; Jesus calls us to follow him along the difficult path of humility and selflessness.  If we are going to realize his call to be “fishers of men,” we have to be willing to cast our nets into waters that are deep and turbulent, waters we do not know, waters that threaten the safety and security of our small boats.  

The Gospel is about possibilities:  Christ came to show us how it is possible to love life to the fullest, if we dare to make forgiveness, reconciliation and selfless charity the center of our lives.  

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#jan21

 

 

 

First Reading Jonah 3:1-5, 10

1The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Psalm 62:5-12

5   For God alone my soul waits in silence, 
          for my hope is from him. 
6   He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
          my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 
7   On God rests my deliverance and my honor; 
          my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8   Trust in him at all times, O people; 
          pour out your heart before him; 
          God is a refuge for us.                              Selah

9   Those of low estate are but a breath, 
          those of high estate are a delusion; 
     in the balances they go up; 
          they are together lighter than a breath. 
10  Put no confidence in extortion, 
          and set no vain hopes on robbery; 
          if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11  Once God has spoken; 
          twice have I heard this: 
     that power belongs to God, 
12       and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. 
     For you repay to all 
          according to their work.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

29I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Gospel Mark 1:14-20

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.