3rd Sunday of the Year 2021, January 24, Source: Mark 1.14-20
The Word
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
14 After John [the Baptizer] had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.
17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
19 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.
20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
A REFLECTION
It was just last week that we read the gospel about Jesus meeting two disciples of John the Baptist who wanted to talk with him. One of them, as we know, was Andrew. He in turn shared his experience of Jesus with his brother Simon. They were both fishermen. We recall that it was Jesus himself who gave Simon the name Peter. Perhaps, after this first experience, they all met a few times. Jesus knew who they were.
Today we hear that Jesus had begun his ministry of teaching and healing. And he desired that others would share that experience with him. So, he looked for those whom he knew – Peter and Andrew and the two brothers John and James. They were all fishermen.
Jesus called them and asked/invited them to journey with him, to learn from him, to share his ministry of Good News. And so, they all left their nets and their fishing boats and their families to go with Jesus. They were invited to share the ministry of Jesus.
MY PRAYER
To get started in this time of prayer, put yourself in a quiet comfortable mode – Recall that God is always with us as promised. Ask for the grace to hear the call to ministry – and to accepted and live by it
What is the ministry of Jesus?
Pope Francis and others have put it like this – Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness, Healing, Generosity, Kindness
>> Reflect and pray over each of these – Do I bring these ministries of Jesus to others? Is there something holding me back? Anger? Resentment? Hurt feelings? Jealousy?…..
>> Ask for the grace to be a minister of blessing – as in each of the above- in the spirit of Jesus – Father give me the grace to know and to love and to share in the ministry of Jesus!
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible
