THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday in the first week in the Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 1:1-8

Ps 116

Mark 1:14-20

Repent, and believe in the Gospel

We have had four weeks of the season of Advent and two weeks of the season of Christmas. We are now in the first week of what is called Ordinary Time and we will remain in Ordinary Time until the beginning of the Season of Lent, which, this year, is the 2nd March, Ash Wednesday. Until then, we will be reading the gospel of Mark, chapter by chapter on weekdays. 

Today we read Mark’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. There are two elements to the way Jesus begins his public ministry in today’s gospel reading. There is an announcement and a call or summons. Jesus’ announcement is referred to by Mark as ‘the Good News from God’. What is this ‘good news or ‘gospel’ that Jesus announces? It is the news that ‘the kingdom of God is close at hand’. God is close at hand, God’s just and loving rule is present in Jesus. That remains the gospel for us today. 

God is not remote but is close at hand through Jesus, now risen Lord. God’s drawing near to us is to be welcomed as good news, because God draws near to bring us life, to deliver us from all that diminishes and damages us. Every day we live in the presence of this good news. Following his announcement of good news, Jesus issues a summons, a call, which is both general and particular. The general call is ‘repent and believe the Good News. We are being called, all of us, to entrust ourselves to this good news, to turn towards the God who is drawing near to us, which will often mean turning away from what blocks us from God, what we call sin. 

The particular call is addressed to four fishermen, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people. In other words, share with me in announcing my good news to others. This particular call is also addressed to each one of us. Each in our way is called to be heralds of the good news that God has drawn near to us. Our whole way of being is to proclaim God’s life-giving love for all in practical and concrete ways. That is what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you have called me personally by name, just as you called your first disciples. Help me to believe your word and follow you faithfully. Amen 

+Remain blessed