THAT ULTIMATE METAMORPHIC CALLING

HOMILY FOR THE 3^RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

(First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Resp. Psalm: Ps. 25:4-9; Second Reading: 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Gospel: Mark 1:14-20)

An ultimate metamorphic call is a call that gives birth to a new life; it is one that discontinues in order to continue. It is a call of continuity in discontinuity. It breaks in order to make straight. This call comes with some force with the purpose of building something new. There comes a time in a person’s life when he/she encounters an experience/encounter that changes almost everything about him/her. This encounter can come in the form of a call (as in the case of Samuel, and many prophets). It can come in the form of a near-death experience (as in the case of a boy who narrated how an accident experience initiated his conversion process). And this call carries with it a metamorphosis. This type of change affects the entirety of one’s being because it pierces into the person’s reason for existence. It is that moment of an ultimate change of one’s life, identity, occupation and lifestyle. For the people of Nineveh (the First Reading, Jonah 3:1-5, 10), it was an occurrence that threatened the very essence of living. For the apostles (in the Gospel, Mark 1:14-20), it was an occurrence that pierced the very mission of life. For us, today, it can be an occurrence that combines the very essence of living and the very mission of life.

This moment of ultimate is a period beyond which no other opportunity is granted. This is why such a change is ultimate. The moment of ultimate change is the moment when God gives us the very last warning or a decisive call. If one neglects this call, and moves towards another direction as against the direction God desires, he makes too an ultimate mistake. For the people of Nineveh, it would have led to a moment of total destruction and annihilation of their race. For the apostles, it would have led to a life of aimlessness and total confusion of their mission in life. For us today, it could lead to a combination of total annihilation and an aimless livelihood. A neglect of the moment of our ultimate change leads one totally out of the track. One may think he/she runs well without knowing that the track is a wrong one. So, one can run well, but outside the track.

One virtue that assists us to discover and follow our moment of ultimate change is attentiveness to the will/word of God. The people of Nineveh listened and their lives changed for the better. They mended their relationship with God, and got more longevity. The apostles listened and answered the call of God, thus changing their mission, and their lives with Christ and for Christ was simply the best form there was. They remained in their mission in Christ, and thus wrote their names on the sands of time. Attentiveness is necessary for the discovery of the moment of our ultimate call for change.

In the famous story of the First Reading, Jonas is sent to go and announce the day of destruction for the people of Nineveh. As a result of the announcement that “forty days more, and Nineveh will be destroyed,” the people become remorseful of their sins, fast and ask God for forgiveness. They show this by putting on sackcloth. And God forgives them. The numbering of days here is significant. The city to which Jonah is sent is reported as a city so large that it requires three days to go through it. Yet, this city does not need even three days for its repentance; one day is sufficient. God’s clemency does not limit Nineveh to three days, just as he gives forty days, a very large number of days, before the city is destroyed. The message of Jonah was one of destruction. The response of the people is one of a deep conversion. They turn from their evil ways as God repents of punishing them. This gives room for the concept of metanoia (repentance) in the New Testament (cf. Gospel of today; Mark 1:15), which is demanded of those who would belong to the kingdom of God.

“It is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.” In line with this, Paul reminds the Church in Corinth in the Second Reading (1 Cor. 7:29-31) that time is running out. He calls for a change of lifestyle; a change that helps to give way for a better life in God. For Paul, such lifestyles people live cause distraction to them. And so, for there to be concentration, they must set aside such lifestyles. They must be prepared always. Every person must constantly be prepared to answer the call of God whenever God calls him/her to rise and move. The person must think of pleasing no other than Christ. The relationships we share with other people are nothing to be compared with the relationship we should share with God. We must consider God first in our lives. And thus, preparedness for such consideration becomes an emphasis for all. This is the message of Paul.

The perfect exemplification of such response is then seen in the apostles. They answered Christ in immediacy, without having to give any reason whatsoever. Firstly, we must notice how Christ called them. Christ used a particular formula: follow me. We are not to think that this is the very first day that they see Jesus. Surely, they have heard him speak and teach the crowd. They have seen him act, react and interact with people. By this formula, Jesus gives a self-approbation of himself as a worthy master to be followed. By their immediate response too, the apostles certify Jesus as someone who is most worthy to be followed. The call began with Jesus’ personal reaction to himself. The response from the following is a sure proof of people who had already fallen in love with Jesus. All they need was to just get a glimpse of a show of love from Jesus, and it is sealed. Following Christ is like falling in love. We may admire people for reasons, but most times, we may love without reasons. The actions of Jesus won for him great love from people. Jesus did not just say: follow my teaching. He said: follow me. He wants us to follow the entirety of his being, because he is sure that he is most fit to lead.

This was a moment of deep change for these men who left everything they had and followed Jesus. Their lives would change. Their daily routine would change. Their relationships would change. Their job would change. Their vision and understanding would change. The answer to this call inaugurates a totally different novelty in their lives. They would now learn another discipline, another teaching, another pattern of life. This is what Christianity is. Christianity changes the entire person. It is a lifestyle, not just a doctrine. The Christian lives a life of the Gospel, and teaches it. There is no separation in the action of a Christian as regards what he/she does in the inside and on the outside. Living their nets and boats is a sign of an authentic conversion and change. Holding firm to the nets and boats can be obstacles that can hinder them from answering the calls. This signifies that they left everything and followed Jesus. In answering God’s call, we must leave everything for that singular treasure we have found. We must keep our eyes on the ball, and never be distracted by the ephemerals of this life. No one needs to tell us that leaving our nets and boats for Christ is a noble decision to make. What is your net or boat that you need to leave today? Be decisive. Leave it, and follow Christ.

In conclusion, we must talk about what Jesus offers them. He gave them a job. He did not call them to keep them idle. He converts them from being fishermen to becoming fishers of men. What a noble task. He raised their status; from catching fish to catching men. Man is the apex of God’s creation. So, their work is at the apex of all works. This task would not be an easy one. They would now be dealing with human beings who have reasons and emotions, and no longer fishes that are far more below the intelligence of man. This entails that the work would not be an easy one. They would pour out their lives and die for such a course. Their mission was a call to give up all they had so as to gain and win eternity for themselves and others. We have all been called to such a mission. Let us keep the flag flying in our different facets of life. I pray that you get a metamorphic call that would change you for the better. Happy new week. God bless you.