Friends,
our Gospel today is Jesus’ inaugural address, setting the tone for the
whole of his preaching. Mark tells us that he was proclaiming the Good
News of God, and that this was "the time of fulfillment."
Something
was being brought to completion. What was it? It was everything that
the Old Testament had spoken of. Jesus gathered up in his person
everything that Israel was about—and this is why his presence was so
compelling and why following him was of paramount importance. This is
why he says, "Repent and believe in the gospel." The Good News is him.
So now it’s time to make a decision.
Friends,
this is the whole story. Everything else is commentary. We are meant to
see ourselves in Simon and Andrew, in James and John. When Jesus passes
by, we have to respond. The time is now. They got this, and that’s why
they responded so promptly.
Now
here’s the catch: to follow him means to do what he does, to call other
people to the kingdom. "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of
men." That line is addressed to all of us, to all the baptized, to all
the disciples.
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 305
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
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