January 21st, 2024 - The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Conversion is certainly the theme for today’s Mass.  The Lord asked Jonah to convert a whole large city of non-believers, urging them all to repent of their evil ways or face dire consequences. Miraculously after Jonah had spent just one day preaching in the city streets, the citizens got his message turned way from their sinful conduct. The gospel too, is a conversion story – Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their nets and boats behind, and follow him. St. Paul, whose feast day we celebrate this Thursday, also had a powerful conversion.  He was a tough opponent and fierce persecutor of the Early Christians. But something happened to this strong, proud, sophisticated man on the way to Damascus one day and he became an apostle of Christ and a preacher of Christ to the Gentile world.  

What about our conversion stories? When have you experienced a call to follow Christ more closely?  For Catholics, conversion is not a one-time event -- it is an extended process, a pilgrimage, a lifelong sacred journey. At any moment and at every moment, Christ is calling us to a change of heart and a conversion of attitude and behavior.