Scripture Reflection - January 11
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Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6; Psalm 97; Mark 1:14-20
Mark’s Gospel today comes after Christ's Baptism and the time He spent in the desert trying to figure out what it all meant for Him. His ministry in Mark begins differently from its beginning in Luke where Jesus is centered in the Temple and surrounded by priests and scribes. After the desert experience, He returned home to grow and learn the common touch, the ability to teach real people, not just talking about the Law and the Temple.
Here in Mark, unlike in Luke, Christ is far from the Temple. Out in the desert with John the Baptist and acknowledged by the presence of the Father and the Spirit at His Baptism, Jesus begins His work with a message that is not much different from John’s, except that Jesus leaves the Jordan, he doesn't baptize but he recruits people to help in his ministry.
Today is the first day of “ordinary time” after Christmas. Christ now enters the everyday world. We, too, with Him. He calls some men (Simon and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother, John) to accompany Him and to become His “disciples”. In the same way, He calls each one of us to be like them – His companions and hopefully His disciples, ready to learn from Him.
What’s so special about this call? First, He called ordinary people, common folks, like us. Second, He calls the heart not the mind, no agreement or contract, no waiting time to decide, just the desire to follow. Third, He calls from within the daily life of people not from the mountain, or temple.
We are called to follow Jesus and let Him mold us into fishers of people, like the disciples. This is not instead of what we have been previously: we are the same people but now with a new Spirit within us. We are still parents, workers, old and young, of whatever color and race. We become brothers and sisters, caring for each other with Christ’s love, a love that we share with them. In Christ our daily lives become new with meaning to replace the boredom, loneliness, and frustration that more worldly people try to deal with. We live with a depth that wasn't there before Christ called us.
God is with us in the daily events and people we encounter every day; let us pray that we accompany Christ faithfully as He Himself works with us.
Blessings.
Fr. Brian