·        20 Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349

·        21 Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304 is a virgin–martyr, venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism. She is one of seven women who, along with the Blessed Virgin, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape survivors, virgins, and the Children of Mary.

·        22 Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304 also known as Vincent Martyr, Vincent of Huesca or Vincent the Deacon, the Protomartyr of Spain, was a deacon of the Church of Saragossa. He is the patron saint of Lisbon and Valencia. 

·        24 Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622

·        25 The Conversion of Paul

·        26 Timothy and Titus, Companions of Paul

·        28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274

OLD TESTAMENT:  Jonah 3: 1 - 5, 10  (RCL, Roman Catholic)

Jona 3:1 (NRSV) The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 "Get up, go to Nin'eveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nin'eveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nin'eveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nin'eveh shall be overthrown!" 5 And the people of Nin'eveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

10 When 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.

Genesis 14: 17 - 20  (Church of England)

Gene 14:17 (NRSV) After his return from the defeat of Chedorlao'mer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sod'om went out to meet him at the Valley of Sha'veh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And King Melchiz'edek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

maker of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"

And Abram gave him one tenth of everything.

PSALM 62: 5 - 12   (RCL)

Psal 62:5 (NRSV) For God alone my soul waits in silence,

for my hope is from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

9 Those of low estate are but a breath,

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

10 Put no confidence in extortion,

and set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.

For you repay to all

according to their work.

Note: Your Psalter versification may be different from the above

62   Nonne Deo?     (ECUSA BCP)

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.

Psalm 25: 4 - 9  (Roman Catholic)

Psal 25:4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all day long.

6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for your goodness' sake, O LORD!

8 Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

Psalm 128  (C of E)

Psal 128:1 (NRSV) Happy is everyone who fears the LORD,

who walks in his ways.

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

around your table.

4 Thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you from Zion.

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

6 May you see your children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

NEW TESTAMENT:  1 Corinthians 7: 29 - 31  (RCL, Roman Catholic)

1Cor 7:29 (NRSV) I 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, 30 and 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, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

h/t Montreal Anglican

In the Revised English Bible, v. 29 begins: “What I mean ... is this: the time we live in will not last long. While it lasts, married men ...”. V. 31b fits naturally: “For the present time is passing away.” We live in the era between Christ’s first and second coming. This is the era in which God calls his church to bring as many as possible to believe in him and to follow his ways. This is an enormous task, and not one to be taken lightly – it requires maximum effort from a few. Paul expected the era to end in his own lifetime, so to him every minute of each day counted in a big way: time spent on other activities was time lost.

Paul’s advice to married men (v. 29b) – to behave as though they have no wives – must be taken in context, so let us look at the whole chapter. Vv. 32-33 tell us why he wrote vv. 29-31a: “I want you to be free from anxieties ... the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided”. Paul is saying that, at a very critical time in history, when all effort is needed to bring people to the Lord, some need to devote some effort to other matters. We need to examine v. 29b in the context of this letter:

·  In this chapter, he identifies what are God’s commands, his commands, and his suggestions; our reading contains suggestions.

·  In v. 2, Paul recommends that (to avoid sexual deviances) “each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

” Each has “conjugal rights” (v. 3); each has authority over the body of the other. Then v. 5: “Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer ...” He continues: “This I say by way of concession, not command. I wish that all were as I myself am [i.e. single]. But each has a particular gift from God ...” (vv. 6-7). Marriage is important.

So what is Paul saying in vv. 29-31? Given the magnitude of our mission, we need to devote as much effort as possible to God’s work. What we do in the world (e.g. commerce, “deal with the world”) is of transitory value. Our focus should be on preparation for Christ’s second coming.

I think it useful to bring together the changes in earthly state that Paul suggests should preferably be avoided; he presents these as his opinion (not as a “command of the Lord”, v. 25, “by way of concession, not of command”, v. 6):

• Being married (vv. 2-4, vv. 10-11, 27), even if the partner is an unbeliever (vv. 12-13)
• The unmarried (vv. 1, 8, 25-26, 27)
• The widowed (v. 8)
• Circumcised and uncircumcised (v. 18)
• Being a slave or being free (v. 21-24)

Verses 17-24: Because the end of the world is fast approaching (see vv. 26, 29-31), it is better for everyone to remain as is and not to try to change his or her outward situation. But believers are free from bondage to this world . [ NOAB]

Social status (such as slavery) and religious condition (such as circumcision) are of no significance for those who are among the people of God, and they should not seek to heighten their status in the new community.[CAB]

Verse 22: In terms of response to the divine call, it does not matter whether one is a slave or a free person. [ NJBC]

Verse 23: “You were bought with a price”: The idea of redemption evokes the pre-baptismal nature of slavery to sin. In Romans 9:3, Paul writes: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh”. [ NJBC]

Verse 23: “slaves of human masters”: This is not a criticism of slavery as such, but of the attitudes of fallen humanity.

Verse 25: “virgins”: This group, about whom the Corinthians had asked, may refer to unmarried but engaged couples, or possibly a couple married but ascetically committed not to have sexual relations: see vv. 28, 34, 36-38. Note v. 1, a quotation from the Christians at Corinth, “‘It is well for a man not to touch a woman’”. [ NOAB] We cannot be sure who Paul means by “virgins” here and elsewhere in the rest of this chapter. [ NJBC] The same Greek word, parthenos, is translated as “fiancée” in vv. 36-38.

Verse 28: “you do not sin”: This seems to imply the breaking of a vow and thus points to spiritual marriage. See comment on v. 36. [ NJBC]

Verse 28: “distress in this life”: NJBC offers affliction for the flesh. He sees this as meaning at least a more complicated life, but perhaps also criticism from the ascetics at Corinth. [ NJBC]

Verses 29-30: Paul considers that it would be silly to make new commitments when all is going to end. On the imminence of the end, Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever” and in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed”. [ NJBC]

Verse 29: “the appointed time has grown short”: i.e. the time before the end of the era, before Christ comes again.

Verse 32: “free from anxieties”: Anxious concern is a characteristic of unredeemed existence. [ NJBC]

Verse 33: Paul has in mind the complete absorption in one another, to the exclusion of all other loving relationships, of the newly married. A married man, being a member of the Christian community of love, his wife has the first, but not the exclusive, claim on his affection, [ NJBC]

Verse 34: Note Paul’s view that men and women are equal: he says precisely the same thing to the woman as he has said to the man. [ NJBC]

Verse 34: “the unmarried woman and the virgin”: This formulation suggests that parthenos (virgin) is being used (at least in this verse) in a technical sense. If so, it can only mean one who has entered into a spiritual marriage. See Shepherd of Hermas, Similitudes 9:11. [ NJBC]

Verse 35: Paul gives clear advice but does not impose solutions. His attitude stands in vivid contrast to the doctrinaire positions adopted by some at Corinth. [ NJBC]

Verses 36-38: The NRSV translation assumes an engaged couple; note v. 9: “But if they are not practising self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion”. Others, less likely, have interpreted “he’, “his” and “him” as referring to a father and his daughter (note that the NRSV footnote says that “fiancée” is literally virgin), or a master and his slave, and her suitor; the father gives her in marriage (v. 38). A third possibility is a couple pledged to virginity in a spiritual marriage , who now wish to enter into normal conjugal relationships (vv. 3-5). Paul’s preference, in any case, is consistent with vv. 7-8, 24, 26-28. [ NOAB]

Verse 36: “his fiancée”: The Greek, parthenos (literally virgin) can be taken as meaning his daughter, his fiancée or his spiritual wife. Considering each meaning in turn:

• Though the most traditional, daughter is the least likely; its only support is gamizein (translated by some as give in marriage).
• The probability of parthenos meaning fiancée is seriously diminished by the allusion to sin in v. 28: why should anyone have thought it sinful for an engaged couple to marry? Moreover Paul has dealt with this problem in 7:8-9.
• So Paul is thinking of spiritual marriage. Paul advises that if they cannot control their sex drive they should have no scruple about entering into a normal married relationship. He wants them to be “free from anxieties” (v. 32) and undistracted (v. 35). [ NJBC]

Verse 37: “being under no necessity”: Those capable of sustaining a spiritual marriage should maintain their commitment. [NJBC]

Verse 38: It is a question of what is good for the individual, not of what is better in principle; however Paul cannot resist mentioning his personal preference for the single state: see vv. 7-8. His reason is not intrinsic superiority but the imminence of the end of the era. [ NJBC]

Verse 39: “free to marry”: Paul moves, through association of ideas, to the issue of second marriages even though he has already dealt with it in vv. 8-9. Marriage is permanent, but death gives the surviving partner full freedom to remarry. In Romans 7:2, he says “a married woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is discharged from the law concerning the husband”. [ NJBC]

Verse 39: “only in the Lord”: i.e. remembering that she is a Christian. [ NJBC]

Verse 40: “I think that I too have the Spirit of God”: To NJBC, a massive understatement tinged with irony; however recall v. 25: “I give as my opinion”. Perhaps Paul is saying that he is fairly sure that what he has said is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 19: 6 - 10   (C of E)

Reve 19:6 (NRSV) Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

"Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready;

8 to her it has been granted to be clothed

with fine linen, bright and pure"--

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God." 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

GOSPEL:  Mark 1: 14 - 20   (all but England)

Mark 1:14 (NRSV) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

16 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. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zeb'edee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Mark has just told us, briefly, about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Now he returns to Galilee. His message begins with “the time is fulfilled” (v. 15): the time appointed by God, the decisive time for God’s action, has arrived. “The kingdom of God has come near”: the final era of history is imminent. Numerous sayings of Jesus support Paul’s view that the end is near, but Jesus did say that no human knows when he will come again, and that he will not come when expected ( 13:32-36). He also said that “the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21), and that the kingdom has begun. Jews believed that when they individually and collectively admitted the error of their ways and returned to God’s way (“repent”, v. 15), the Messiah would come. We too are called to adopt God’s way, to “believe in the good news”. The whole of Mark is an expansion of this verse.
In vv. 16-20, the first four disciples are called: they immediately leave their previous occupations, and follow Jesus. Jesus expresses his command in their terms (v. 17). (Immediacy of response is a mark of this gospel.) These disciples owned nets (v. 19) and had employees (“hired men”, v. 20), so they were people of rank. They gave up security and family (“left their father”, v. 20) to devote themselves to Christ’s mission.

John 2: 1 - 11   (Church of England)

John 2:1 (NRSV) On the third day there was a wedding in Ca'na of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Ca'na of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Verses 14-15: See also Matthew 4:12-17 and Luke 4:14-15. [ NOAB]

Verse 15: “kingdom of God”: This is equivalent to Matthew’s “the kingdom of heaven”. Jesus means that all God’s past dealings with his creation are coming to climax and fruition. Jesus taught both the present reality of God’s rule and its future realization. [ NOAB]

Verses 16-20: The parallels are Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11 and John 1:35-42. [ NOAB]

Verse 16: “Sea of Galilee”: Other names for this lake are Sea of Tiberias and Lake of Genesaret. It is 20 kilometres (12 miles) north to south and 12 kilometres (8 miles) east to west. [ NOAB] Mark usually refers to it as “the sea”: see 2:13; 3:7; 4:1; 5:1, 13, 21.

Verse 16: “Simon”: He is variously named Simon and Peter, the latter being the nickname connected with his character. Andrew is a shadowy character in this gospel: see also 1:29; 3:18; 13:3. [ NJBC]

Verses 16-20: That the first disciples were uneducated arises from a too literal reading of Acts 4:13: “Now when they [the Jerusalem sanhedrin] saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus”. [ NJBC] The Zebedee family ran a fishing business “with ... hired men” (employees).

Verse 17: “fish for people”: The metaphor is best interpreted against the background of their occupation rather than in the light of Jeremiah 16:16 (“I am now sending for many fishermen [to the Israelites], says the LORD, and they shall catch them”) or early Christian tradition. [ NJBC]

Verse 18: “immediately”: So compelling were Jesus and his call that no preparation or getting used to the idea was necessary; the first disciples required little or no deliberation to make an enthusiastic commitment. It was customary for Jewish students to approach a distinguished teacher and attach themselves to him (see John 1:35-42); here Jesus summons the students. [NJBC]

Verse 18: “followed”: The Greek word, akoloutheo, is the technical term for discipleship in the New Testament. [ NJBC]

Verse 19: “James son of Zebedee and his brother John”: With Peter, these two disciples form a kind of inner circle among the Twelve: see 1:29-31; 3:16-17; 5:35-43; 9:2-13; 10:35-45; 13:3; 14:32-42. [ NJBC]