Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. To follow Christ is not always easy. Some churches teach that if you would accept Christ as your Savior there is no need to do anything further to live out your Christian faith. However, let's ponder over some events that could occur in your lifetime from the following list: you could have your marriage fall apart and then end, have a son/daughter diagnosed with an incurable disease, loose family members to death, your own health can fail, your job could end, you could go bankrupt, you could loose everything. If any of the previous conditions should envelop your life would you not question your faith? Of course there would be times you would question, or maybe even doubt your place in life. At these turning points in life would it not be wise to take a breath and look back over your troubles and thank God for all the good? You would need to respond to the same call of grace that you responded to in front of your church community. If just responding to a call to be "born again" by a prayer are all that is required of you then why do you ignore our Lord? We are to respond daily to grace. Every waking hour we must understand this concept that God will do anything to draw us back to himself. God is Father he is waiting to have a relationship with you. The Sacraments are provided so that we may know our risen Lord. Scripture guides us to believe and be baptised. We must also work out our salvation. This Christian life isn't easy and it is full of strife. We must ask ourselves what is this call God is asking us to fulfill? Will you respond to God's grace? If you haven't before what about now? Make haste as we do not know when the Son of Man shall return. O, Lord Christ, we humbly beseech you to open our hearts and our minds so that we may perfectly love you and magnify your purpose to all the peoples of the earth. We acknowledge and accept your call to be fishers of people baptising them in the name, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Grant us grace and the knowledge to know how to respond to its calling. We want to honor and adore you. We lift up your name. Through the risen Lord Christ, Amen.


Collect:
GIVE US GRACE, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all the people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


***Pray especially for healing for: Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber and family, Pete & Mary Jane Walburg, Tommy Thompson, John & Delberta Allen, Misty McCoy, Jerilyn Swann, Nathan McConnell, Peggy Ann Turner, Pam Shinault, Jimmy Milas, Katie Armstrong, Donald Kaltenback, Harry MacRae, Susan Beeler, and Starla Grilley.

(1st Reading Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:6-14, 2nd Reading I Corinthians 7:29-31, Gospel Mark 1:14-20)