Third Sunday in Lent, March 8 Jesus Call Us O’er the Tumult

Scripture:
“As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea… And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” — Mark 1:16–18

Hymn Focus:

Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult
“Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea.”
“Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
saying, ‘Christian, follow me.’”

Lent is a season of listening. Amid the noise of ordinary life—responsibilities, worries, ambitions, and fears—the hymn Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult reminds us that Christ’s call is steady and persistent. It rises above the chaos, not by shouting louder, but by speaking with clarity and love.

The image of the “wild, restless sea” feels familiar. Like the first disciples, we are often busy tending our nets—doing what we know, what feels necessary, what defines us. Yet Jesus calls us not only away from sin, but away from anything that keeps us from wholehearted devotion. Lent invites us to notice what we cling to and what Christ may be asking us to leave behind.

The hymn assures us that Christ’s call is not a one-time event. “Day by day His sweet voice soundeth.” Lent trains our ears to hear that daily call again—to repentance, to mercy, to simpler trust. Following Jesus is not merely about dramatic decisions, but about daily faithfulness in response to his voice.

As the disciples left their nets, they stepped into uncertainty—but also into purpose. Lent invites us into that same courageous obedience, trusting that the One who calls us also goes with us, leading us toward life.

Prayer

Calling Christ,
Amid the noise and restlessness of our lives,
help us to hear your voice.
Give us courage to loosen our grip
on what holds us back from following you fully.
In this Lenten season,
teach us to listen, to trust, and to follow,
day by day, wherever you lead.
Amen.