The Third Sunday before Advent

First reading

Jonah 3.1–5,10

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

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.

Second reading

Hebrews 9.24–28

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he

would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Psalm

Psalm 62.5–12

Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul;

for in him is my hope. He alone is my rock

and my salvation,

my stronghold, so that

I shall not be shaken. In God is my strength

and my glory;

God is my strong

rock; in him is my refuge.

Put your trust in him always, my people;

pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

The peoples are but a breath,

the whole human race a deceit;

on the scales they are altogether lighter than air.

Put no trust in oppression; in robbery take no empty pride;

though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

God spoke once, and twice have I heard the same,

that power belongs to God.

Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord,

for you repay everyone according to their deeds.

Gospel

Mark 1.14–20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.'

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.