In today's first reading, we hear God's second call to Jonah to go to Nineveh. This time he reluctantly obeyed.

Jonah was to warn the people of Nineveh, a vast city, to repent. The people believed God, and they fasted and wore sackcloth. Because they repented, God did not punish them.

Paul believed that Christ would be returning very soon, so he advised people of the Church in Corinth to change their way of living. Paul wanted the people to focus totally on the Lord and not be distracted by the affairs of everyday life. He was wholly convinced that Christ's return was imminent.

At the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus proclaimed his message - a new time in history was beginning, and people should repent and believe because the kingdom of God had arrived.

Once he shared that message, Jesus set out to gather his disciples. They stopped work and followed. There was no hesitation for Simon, Andrew, James and John. They were eager to follow Jesus and be part of his mission for he promised to make them fishers of people.

How eager are we to be part of Jesus' mission?