January 22 NOTES FOR REFLECTION
Texts: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-32; Mark 1:14-20
Theme: "The Call of God (Part II)", perhaps? Or "The Direct Experience – Repeat Broadcast". (This is the season for endless repeats on T.V., so why not in the Church?) To avoid being that silly I'm going with "Now is the Time". An alternative might be "All Change", where "all" means everyone and everything, such is the true meaning of repentance.
Introduction. Much like last week, we have the old and the new way through which God speaks to the people. Jonah is a prophet, albeit in this case a reluctant or even rebellious one. He is given by God a very clear message for the Ninevites, calling upon them to repent. They are, of course, Gentiles, so I guess we are to understand this passage in the context of the revelation to the Gentiles. At the second time of asking, Jonah delivers the message and it bears fruit: the people of Nineveh repent. But again, we are left to wonder what, if anything, happened next: did they grow in their new-found faith, or return to their old ways? St Paul, in three short verses, tells us what should happen next. There should be a complete re-prioritising of everything, particularly of our values. Nothing is now more important than our faith. The gospel passage shows this extraordinary change in the specific examples of the fishermen. They abandon the means of their livelihood and their families to "follow him", wherever and whatever for, they know not. Not a bad description of the meaning of faith, really.
Background. Once again we have readings that speak to us of a new stage of spiritual development. We might easily overlook that simple, apparently inconsequential remark that Jesus makes at the start of this passage: "The time has come." So important is this expression to Mark that he makes them the first words Jesus utters in his gospel. The expression surely implies that there has been a preceding period of waiting, that something important is now happening, and that the timing of the new happening is not accidental. After everything else that has happened in the past, including the stuttering false starts surrounding the birth and early years of Jesus' life, this is the real deal!
Jonah forms an interesting background to this story: we recall that when Jesus was asked for a sign in one of his many disputes he referred them to the "sign of Jonah" (Matthew 16:1-5), usually taken to mean that, just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish before being coughed up to a new life, so Jesus would be entombed for three days before being raised to new life. Here, the link is the message of repentance: just as God sent Jonah to call the people of Nineveh to turn from their sinful ways, so now Jesus proclaims the same message to the Jews and to the whole world. It is important to read the little Book of Jonah non-historically: although it is traditionally treated as a prophetic book, it really belongs with the wisdom literature. It is a short, and brilliantly written parable, showing human nature in all our cussedness, and lack of empathy for those we consider our enemies. We are reminded, perhaps, of James and John who offered to Jesus to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that did not welcome them: Luke 9:51-56. (Or John Cleese as a wonderfully demented nun slapping a recalcitrant schoolgirl across the face while yelling "God is love, you dolt! What is he? God is love!") Compare Jonah with the Good Samaritan: he wouldn't have walked by on the other side – he would have run!
So the time has come, but for what? And Jesus' cryptic answer is that the kingdom has drawn near. Over the centuries many different understandings have been put forward as to what this expression means. Is it to suggest (as many of his time assume) that Jesus was to throw out the Roman overlords and establish in Israel a theocracy with him as ruler? Or is the kingdom of the heavenly realms only, to be entered on death? The 'answer' as always is far more complex than either of those options would suggest. In keeping with the general approach I have been putting forward in these notes for two or three months now, I find a helpful way of trying to grasp what this is about is to interpret the term "kingdom of God" (or "Kingdom of Heaven") as this new stage of spiritual development that is now to be made possible through Jesus Christ, the essence of which is direct communication with God through Christ.
So here is our gospel reading we no longer hear a prophet speaking about God: instead, we have God, incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, speaking directly to those he encounters. We are told here of four who immediately responded positively, with such dramatic effect; but, of course, the gospels are full of people whose reactions were the complete opposite. That remains true to this day.
Jonah. This little book is a wonderful study of human nature! First, we must recognise that Jonah is spiritually open to God. There is no suggestion that Jonah did not hear God, or did not understand what God was calling him to do. He understood only too clearly. God was calling him to go to Nineveh "and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me". Jonah was not the first prophet to receive a calling he didn't want. Even the great Moses tried to persuade God to send Aaron instead of him to Egypt. Nor was Jonah's unwillingness based on fear for his own safety, or of a lack of ability to fulfil the task. He was afraid that Nineveh would heed the message and repent; and if it did, Jonah was even more afraid that God would prove to be something of a wishy-washy liberal instead of a paid-up member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, and forgive the whole city. However, a near-death experience and a miraculous rescue can have an effect on even the most recalcitrant mind; and so, when the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, he obeyed. Notice (and enjoy!) the subtle little detail in verses 3 and 4: Nineveh is a great city, requiring 3 days to traverse. So Jonah has not reached the city centre when he delivers his message. He is obeying, but to the least possible degree that he thinks he can get away with! But, alas! It is enough to fulfil God's purposes!
Taking It Personally.
- Read the whole book – it's very short. Reflect on Jonah's character. When is he most like you, and when is he least like you?
- Have you had an experience when your life was seriously in danger? Did that change your outlook, and has that change been permanent?
- Have you ever felt God prompting you to do something you didn't want to do? Did you take evasive action, comply grudgingly, or comply wholeheartedly?
- Do you want wrongdoers to suffer for their wrongs, or are you more likely to pray for their forgiveness?
- Notice how honest Jonah is with God – especially in chapter 4. Can you be as honest and direct in your prayers?
Corinthians. This extraordinary little passage calls into question our basic attitudes, assumptions and values. All are turned on their heads by 'the Christ event'. Spiritual writers (and many psychologists) talk of a false self and a true Self. The false self is the one we naturally develop to help us navigate through the ordinary circumstances of what we take to be our separate, individual lives. It is only when we become aware that there is more to us than that – that we can transcend that little self and become tuned into the Self that we call God – that everything changes for us. We discover that everything has only a relative value, surpassed by the Ultimate Value of the One True Divine Reality (a.k.a. God). It seems to me that this is what St Pal is trying to help us grasp in these few verses. To move from one stage of spiritual development to the next means that "this world in its present form is passing away". Remember that he is writing post-Pentecost: the Holy Spirit is now available to all, not just to the specially chosen anointed few. That's the game-changer, as we sometimes say today.
Taking It Personally.
- To what extent does your Christian faith shape your attitudes, assumptions and values?
- Does your faith give you a different perspective – are you more "philosophical" about things that go wrong? Do you consciously call upon your faith to help you keep a sense of proportion?
- Are you engrossed in "the things of the world" or do you "hang loose" to them? Is there anything you would not give up for your faith?
Mark. As I noted last week, there are differences between the various gospel accounts of the calling of the first disciples. So this is Mark's version. It starts at the Sea of Galilee, such a central feature in his narrative. It is unclear whether Jesus had already met these men, or if they knew him by reputation only. Most of the comments made on last week's gospel apply again here. In particular, note the unconditional and unquestioning response. No questions, no ifs and buts, just immediate obedience, despite the enormous cost. They are walking away from their families and their means of earning a living. And for what? To follow Jesus of Nazareth who promises to make them "fishers of men and women", whatever that is supposed to mean. Notice the sense of urgency, emphasised in this passage: "the time has come" (v.15); "at once" (v.18); and "without delay" (v.20).
Taking It Personally.
· Suppose you read a contemporary account of this story in the paper? Would your suspicions be roused? Would your cynicism? What would you make of four fishermen simply dropping everything and clearing off? Shades of Scientology, brain-washing, de-programming etc. Here?
· Put yourself in Zebedee's shoes. How would you feel if your two sons simply walked out on you (and the family business) in front of the hired men who may well have been enjoying seeing Zebedee's rather public humiliation.
· Looking back, have there been any radical breaks in your life, where you have suddenly changed course?
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