In his book, And Now I See: A Theology of Transformation, Father Robert Barron says, “Jesus nowhere in the gospels urges his followers to worship him, though he insistently calls them to follow him.” The readings this Sunday issue urgent challenges to make God’s will primary in our lives. This is not an intellectual exercise. It is a call to action.

Comparisons between Jesus and Jonah go back a long way. One might say that Jesus started it. One day the Pharisees came to him insisting on proof of his authority. Jesus was so angered by this demand—weren’t his teachings and miracles proof enough?—that he declared the only sign this evil generation would get is the sign of Jonah.

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

Many of us experienced being overwhelmed in school by the number of papers we had to write, tests we needed to study for, and books we needed to read. Who among us didn’t at one time or another fall back on “Cliff’s Notes” to get us around reading Pride and Prejudice or Wuthering Heights or some other lengthy tome?

I used to feel guilty I wasn’t like the first apostles, ready to drop everything and run after Jesus. I know how many attachments I tend to hang onto, even when I think I’m “letting go and letting God.”

A common reaction after hearing the story of the first disciples—fishermen who are told to come follow Christ and become fishers of men—is to try to imagine ourselves in a similar situation. There we are on the job, and Jesus walks up and tells us to drop what we’re doing and come follow him. Could we do it?

We turn to God who fills our hearts with repentance.

God’s will is to save us, and nothing pleases God more than our coming back to God with true repentance.