Epiphany 3 B + What time is it? + 1.24.21

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M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Jonah 3: 1–5, 10; Psalm 62: 6–14; 1 Corinthians 7: 29–31; Mark 1: 14–20)

What time is it?

Although we are most of the way through January, it is a new day. Many around the country sensed a possibility for a fresh start this week, even as some may have felt defeated. For many it felt like a time of promise and hope, after so long spent in fear and sorrow.

Jesus came to those in Galilee some simple words. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Then he called some of his disciples, Simon and Andrew, saying “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Such simple words, but the meaning is profound. The time is fulfilled, or is among us, or time’s up. Time to get with the program and follow God.

We too are hearing that. Not only do we need to hear God’s call in our lives to repent of the sins of racism, of our degradation of the earth, and so many other ills, but we are seeing action at the national level responding to those calls. However it cannot all come from the top. Those of us who are the worker bees must do our small part.
And from that I take so much comfort in the story of Jonah. Because I don’t know about you, but it would be easy around now to say, what a relief! Some change is happening, and just go sit under my bush. But God called Jonah to ask Nineveh to repent even when Jonah thought those people wouldn’t listen. That those people would not care. But God said, it’s time! I love those people of Nineveh even if they seem to be your enemy. So go and do as I tell you, so they can turn their lives around!

And Jonah did, after much consternation and a whale. And so we too are called to look to those who may seem to be our enemies and try to figure out a way to reach out to them. To invite them into more abundant life. Because it’s time. We can no longer treat the earth as disposable. We can no longer treat some human beings as less important than other human beings.

Alene and I have been watching the sometimes gruesome but also very interesting show “Bones” recently. We are up to Season 6 and we just watched “The Shallow in the Deep,” wherein they are identifying the remains of slaves who went down in a slave ship. One character, Angela, is visibly disturbed by the atrocity of slavery that led to these human beings’ deaths. And an intern, Daisy says that she tries just to think of them as bones, that it makes it easier on her. But Angela replies that they are not just bones. And she proceeds to draw a portrait of each person on the ship so that their visages can be part of a permanent installation at the Smithsonian even as their bodies are ceremonially buried. Angela knew that it was never too late to show humanity in the face of atrocity.[1]

And the time is now for each of us, but particularly for those of privilege in society, to do our part to create a more just, loving and peaceful world. To follow Jesus’ call and to love others as we would be loved.

But it is not easy. Because the same day when many felt so hopeful, on Wednesday, others were suffering. This pandemic continues to take lives before their time and to afflict families with illness. Even as Jesus says the time is fulfilled, we know that the kingdom is not here yet in its entirety. We are still living in a world of illness and death. We have hope in that some are already receiving the vaccine, but others are waiting and watching and hoping even in these dark times. Some feel disconnected and depressed.
In today’s gospel, both the verbs for repent and believe are plural. We don’t need to go this alone. We must reach out to each other and work together to repent and change our lives. But we must also believe together. When one feels unsure of his or her faith because they are aggrieved or sorrowful, we can mourn with them and pray with them. When one is hopeful and rejoicing, we can rejoice with them, even if we might each have different reasons to rejoice. I think this is a bit of what St Paul is talking about in his first letter to the Corinthians today- adjusting to each other so that we can help each other ride out the storm. Because we have a little ways to go yet on this journey.

And yet, it is time. Time for us to repent. And believe the good news, that God is among us, and will carry us through this time and into abundant life for all. With God’s help, before long we really will have our new day, a new day of peace, justice and love for all!

Amen.

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