January 22
Sunday
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.
To serve others is not an easy thing. Often those whom we serve fail to demonstrate even the slightest bit of gratitude. To serve is not glorious and does not bring fame or fortune. Yet, it is what we are called to do as the children of God. In Christian life, becoming a servant is the only path to follow Christ. Jesus told his disciples that he did not come to be served but to serve and to bring salvation for everyone. To serve is our greatest dignity because it provides a measurement of who we are, just as it did to Jesus, the Servant of God.
You don’t have to be extremely wise to understand the difficulties that could emerge in relationships between people of different cultures. In Sunday’s readings we are told that Epiphany (the manifestation of God) is for everyone. God wants to manifest himself in all people because he loves everyone. He is here for all cultures and all nations, and no one is excluded. The gifts from God originate from everyone, because we all have riches and blessings to give, and they are offered to all through the Father.
