This Sunday’s Readings speak to me on many different levels.  The invitation from God to Jonah in the first reading followed by the call of Jesus to Simon, Andrew, James and John in the Gospel have resonated with me many times over the years as I continue to reflect on my call to religious Life as a Sister of Saint Francis. The Responsorial Psalm prayer, “Teach me your ways, O Lord” is the connecting thread for me through all three of these readings.  Those who follow the call of God are reminded that God’s “compassion” and “kindness are with us “from of old.”

Jonah responds immediately to God’s call announcing a message he received from God for the people to turn from their ways.  God spoke through the person of Jonah and the people of Nineveh believed and changed their ways. The personal invitation from this first reading is: “how do I allow God to speak through me?”  In order to do that we need to continue learning those ways that God wants to teach us. Our actions need to witness that we are listening to what God desires to teach us in our lives.

The call to the fishermen in the Gospel has always been a very compelling story for me. I continue to wonder what made all four men make such a quick decision to follow Jesus- no questions asked. James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat” presumably to continue mending the nets.  No goodbye, no discussion or no  thought who would continue the fishing business.  They knew God’s ways and were willing to risk all to follow the message of Jesus more completely. This Gospel message continues to challenge me to pray earnestly that I may know God’s ways.

Let us all unite this week as we pray that God will continue to teach us the ways of kindness, compassion and love so we can allow others to hear this message spoken and lived in our lives.