3^RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

PSAlTER WEEk iii

SAINT AGNES

Green

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 95: 1, 6

O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Jonah 3:1-5,10

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9 R/ Lord, make me know your ways.

1. Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour.
2. Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old.
3. In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.
4. The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, He guides the humble in the right path, He teaches his way to the poor.

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.

Gospel Acclamation: Mk1:15

Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand: repent, and believe the Good News. Alleluia!

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’ As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6

Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Christ came to earth to free humanity from sin and restore our relationship with God. This act of love explains to us the permanence of God’s love for us humans. After the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, God did not abandon us. God promised from the beginning to save humanity from the evil one. In the Gospel, God calls us to repent and change. God is faithful, and this call seems always to be coming to us and inviting a response. Today we are to consider our call to follow Jesus and proclaim the kingdom of God. God is always faithful to us in unconditional love that keeps gently pulling us towards Godself with the sole requirement: “The kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News” In other words, Jesus is telling you and me, “repent, believe and embrace this good news of my unconditional love for you.”