13-Jan-20

Gospel MK 1:14-20

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.

Reflection

After John had been arrested....

John the Baptist came before Jesus, preaching a message of repentance, telling people to straighten out their lives for the Savior of the world would soon arrive. After John’s arrest, Jesus continue to proclaim His message....

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.”

For years the people of Galilee had been oppressed by both the demands of religious law and heavy taxes; they were ready for a message of hope.
Jesus came with that message: The long awaited “time of fulfillment,” the coming of the Messiah was at hand.

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.

As was common at that time, Jesus preached as He walked. People listened to Him for they were hungry for hope. He did not demand people follow Him. Ever gentle, Jesus extended an invitation, "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.

Jesus extends that same invitation to each of us.

When He says, “Come after me,” He does not expect you to leave your families and jobs. Instead, Jesus invites you to embrace and live out His message “to love God and love your neighbor as yourselves.” (Mark 12: 30-31)

Our Lord does not expect perfection but that we try our best to love God and one another. In this way, we will do no one harm, selflessly sacrifice for the sake of others and be pleasing in the sight of God.

“Perfection does not exist - only God is perfect.” Carolina Herrera