Caught By a Fish - 1.21.24 The Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, Ph.D.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany The Collect: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all 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. Old Testament: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2"Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" 5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Psalm: Psalm 62: 6-14 6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *        truly, my hope is in him. 7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *        my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. 8 In God is my safety and my honor; *        God is my strong rock and my refuge. 9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *        pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge. 10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *        even those of low estate cannot be trusted. 11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *        all of them together. 12 Put no trust in extortion;        in robbery take no empty pride; *        though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it. 13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *        that power belongs to God. 14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *        for you repay everyone according to his deeds. Epistle: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 29I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.