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Seattle's Most Dangerous Sunday School (SMDSS) is an educational activity of Saint Ignatius Catholic Community (ECC) and Ravenna United Methodist Church.
SMDSS is a discussion and learning forum for thinking Christians who wish to explore their faith in an ecumenical context. You are welcome to join us! We meet every Sunday at 8:30 AM.
The Sunday readings begin with a selection from the Book of Jonah. If ever there was a fish story to tell, it is Jonah's. See what happens when you try to flee God's call! Jonah is one of the wonderful little stories in the bible that would be great told around a campfire, with lots of gesturing, sighing, moaning, wailing and sulking. It is interesting, I think, that so often in scripture when God is direct is revealing himself those chosen to hear try to beat feet. The old adage, "you can run but cannot hide" always finds a place in these stories. Jonah hears what he is called to do, and heads in the opposite direction intending to go as far as possible away from the city he is called to minister to. He jumps on a ship, a great storm ensues. The crew agrees with him that he is the cause of their peril and he is tossed overboard. He takes a three day ocean cruise in a whale. More follows, but why don't you just read the story for yourself. You owe yourself that treat!
Jonah eventually carries out his mission to bring to repentance the entire population of Nineveh. The author underscores the urgency of God's message: in a city so large it takes three days to traverse, Jonah does it in one, And within that day, the entire city from the king to the livestock repent. And strangely, Jonah becomes angry with God because God spares all that live within the city. He rails out at God: "I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!" At this point, stop reading and reflect on just this last part. That is a very audacious thing to say to God. And it doesn't stop there. Read the Book of Jonah for yourself to learn how this turns out. And as you read, ask yourself if you could find yourself in Jonah's place, acting in just that manner.
Jonah announced that the time to change was at hand. And people did change. The people of Nineveh moved into right relationship with a God who is not single-minded and revengeful. God does call us to act and, as the story illustrates, that means now. This theme is picked up in the brief reading from Paul's first letter to the little church in Cornith: "I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple ... This world as you see it is on its way out." Both Paul and the author of the book of Jonah draw our attention to the urgent present. God calls, and we answer or we do not. If we do not, we run the risk of saying at some point "why didn't I do ____ back then, when I had the chance?" Scripture teaches us a no regret strategy: to be in this moment, open to God's calling, and available to respond.
This theme of the urgent now is continued in the gospel reading from Mark. Jesus is walking along the shore announcing: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message." There is no more waiting around, checking it out, looking to see what other will do. Jesus' message here is to do something, and do it now. This point is driven home in the recruitment of Simon and Andrew, James and John. The author stresses the urgent present using words like "now," "immediately," "come," and 'they dropped their nets and followed."
God calls. Who hears and what do they do? God's call comes with a sense of urgency. What will you do? There are only two possible choices. Choose your response from the following menu:
[A] One day long ago, God's Word came to Jonah, Amittai's son: "Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer." But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God.
[B] "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.
We are a progressive, inclusive, welcoming catholic parish.You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.
The Sunday readings begin with a selection from the Book of Jonah. If ever there was a fish story to tell, it is Jonah's. See what happens when you try to flee God's call! Jonah is one of the wonderful little stories in the bible that would be great told around a campfire, with lots of gesturing, sighing, moaning, wailing and sulking. It is interesting, I think, that so often in scripture when God is direct is revealing himself those chosen to hear try to beat feet. The old adage, "you can run but cannot hide" always finds a place in these stories. Jonah hears what he is called to do, and heads in the opposite direction intending to go as far as possible away from the city he is called to minister to. He jumps on a ship, a great storm ensues. The crew agrees with him that he is the cause of their peril and he is tossed overboard. He takes a three day ocean cruise in a whale. More follows, but why don't you just read the story for yourself. You owe yourself that treat!
Jonah eventually carries out his mission to bring to repentance the entire population of Nineveh. The author underscores the urgency of God's message: in a city so large it takes three days to traverse, Jonah does it in one, And within that day, the entire city from the king to the livestock repent. And strangely, Jonah becomes angry with God because God spares all that live within the city. He rails out at God: "I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!" At this point, stop reading and reflect on just this last part. That is a very audacious thing to say to God. And it doesn't stop there. Read the Book of Jonah for yourself to learn how this turns out. And as you read, ask yourself if you could find yourself in Jonah's place, acting in just that manner.
Jonah announced that the time to change was at hand. And people did change. The people of Nineveh moved into right relationship with a God who is not single-minded and revengeful. God does call us to act and, as the story illustrates, that means now. This theme is picked up in the brief reading from Paul's first letter to the little church in Cornith: "I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple ... This world as you see it is on its way out." Both Paul and the author of the book of Jonah draw our attention to the urgent present. God calls, and we answer or we do not. If we do not, we run the risk of saying at some point "why didn't I do ____ back then, when I had the chance?" Scripture teaches us a no regret strategy: to be in this moment, open to God's calling, and available to respond.
This theme of the urgent now is continued in the gospel reading from Mark. Jesus is walking along the shore announcing: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message." There is no more waiting around, checking it out, looking to see what other will do. Jesus' message here is to do something, and do it now. This point is driven home in the recruitment of Simon and Andrew, James and John. The author stresses the urgent present using words like "now," "immediately," "come," and 'they dropped their nets and followed."
God calls. Who hears and what do they do? God's call comes with a sense of urgency. What will you do? There are only two possible choices. Choose your response from the following menu:
[A] One day long ago, God's Word came to Jonah, Amittai's son: "Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer." But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God.
[B] "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.