Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Brian Christensen
Homily from the Televised Mass, NewsCenter1
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 21, 2024

Repent and believe in the Gospel. Repent and believe in the Gospel. 

Here, Jesus asks us to turn our lives around and to enter into the Good News, the Gospel that he proclaims. That the Kingdom of God is that hand. 

Thirty-one years ago, or so, I was sitting in the cathedral here in Rapid City and I really had this deep sense of the Lord was inviting me to come follow him in a new and challenging way. I was a young Air Force officer. I had a girlfriend. I had my plans, and I was going about them very well, I thought. And yet the Lord was asking me to do something new. To come follow him in a profound way. To be called to be His priest. 

Sometimes, when we think about repentance, we think about turning it away from all that is wrong and evil and sinful in our life, and that’s very true. That’s a constant call in our life. But also, the Lord seems to ask us to call us away from what’s good to something better. 

Here we see the fisherman on the side of the Sea of Galilee, Andrew and his brother Peter. They’re doing good work, they’re faithful men. They’re about their business and the Lord calls them to let go of what is good and to come follow him to something better and more. And a few steps later, he asked James and John to leave their father, leave their family behind to do something that’s better. 

Family is good. Work is good. Our plans are good. But God has something better in mind. And so, this is the challenge that the Lord calls us to today. Sometimes, we’re stuck in a pattern of sin or addiction or different ways in which we fall short of being fully alive in Jesus Christ, and so certainly, He calls us away from that. 

But perhaps he’s calling us into something more. More in our relationship with Him. More in our life of prayer. More in our commitment and generosity, and sacrifice for Him, and those around us. To enter more deeply into our vocation  — whether that’s marriage or priesthood. And certainly, to enter more deeply into our discipleship with Him.

Repent and believe in the Gospel. The kingdom of God is at hand. What is it that’s good that you’re doing? Perhaps the Lord is calling you to the better?