Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Liturgy Alive

The liturgical calendar of the year

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Sunday JANUARY 24

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Time Is Running Out

Greeting (see the gospel)

Our Lord is here in our midst and tells us:
“The time has come,
and the kingdom of God is close at hand.
Repent and believe the Good News.”
May you heed his words
and may the Lord be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

“Do not postpone until tomorrow what you can do today,” says an old proverb. Unfortunately, we often do the opposite, saying that there will be time enough tomorrow. God’s word, though, keeps urging us. The time to do the things of God is now. The time to change is urgent. Repent now, be converted now, God and his kingdom are here with you now. With the Lord among us here we ask him to make us listen now to his Good News and to make it come true among us now.

Penitential Act

Too easily we postpone our wish
to serve God better.
We now ask the Lord to forgive us.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you tell us
that now the time has come
to turn away from our sins:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you ask us
to accept fully your Good News
and to live by it:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you urge us
to serve you and your kingdom:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

In your kind mercy, forgive us, Lord,
for being so slow to accept your word
and to implement it fully.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that we may answer
the Lord’s urgent call for conversion.
(pause)
God our Father,
you tell us through Jesus your Son
that it is more than time for us
to be converted to the Good News
which he wants us to hear and to live up to.
You alone can change us.
Give us the courage to entrust ourselves
without fear and hesitation to Jesus
and to follow him wherever he leads us,
for we are sure he will lead us to joy
and make us share his words and life
with our brothers and sisters,
and guide us to you,
our God and Father for ever. R/ Amen.

First Reading: Pagans Are Also Called to Conversion

Jonah, thinking that salvation is only for the Jews, reluctantly preaches conversion to pagans. These pagans listen to the word of God and turn away from evil.

Reading 1: Jon 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, "
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

(4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Second Reading: The Detached Style of Life of Christians

Because Christians are converted and turned to God, they are supposed to live for the kingdom. Hence, they should use the things of this world without attaching themselves to them.

Reading 2: 1 Cor 7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

Alleluia: Mk 1:15

Alleluia, alleluia.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Repent, and Believe the Good News

The Good News proclaimed by Jesus Christ demands conversion and commitment of faith. The apostles respond with total generosity and will cast their nets over the world to gather everyone and all in Christ.

Gospel: Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

Intercessions

Let us recommend to God our Father the needs and sufferings of this world, and let us say: R/ Lord, renew our hearts.

– For the Church dear to us, that the Lord may help it to keep renewing itself, that it may

stay on the road of the gospel and help people to live it as Good News, let us pray to the Lord: