My Dear People,

 “Gospel” literally  means “good news.” It is a Greek word meaning eu (good) and angelion (news).

In one Gospel narrative there is the story wherein Jesus met Andrew and John, and they remained with Jesus throughout that day. Later, Andrew sought out his brother Simon, (he was not yet called Peter) and he brought him to Jesus. Upon seeing Simon for the first time Jesus said to him: “You are Simon, son of Jonah! You shall be rendered Cephas, meaning Rock (Peter).”

When Jesus began preaching in Galilee where Peter, Andrew, James, and John were living and employed as fishermen, Jesus called them to follow Him. Their response was immediate, and they abandoned their nets to follow Jesus.

The “Kingdom of God” is not a phrase found in the Old Testament, but some of the Psalms come close (see especially Ps. 145). The “kingdom of the Lord” describes David’s kingdom in Chronicles (see 1 Chr. 28:5; 2 Chr. 13:8). The kingdom of God is both divine and human, as Jesus is both son of God and son of David.  

Jesus, the King, needs royal officers. This is where the Galilean fishermen come in. They will be groomed as viceroys of the kingdom. Jesus calls them to Himself and promises to make them “fishers of men,” fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah: Look!--oracle of the LORD—I will send many fishermen to catch them. After that, I will send many hunters to hunt them out from every mountain and hill and rocky crevice (Jer 16:16).

In the context of Jeremiah, this prophecy referred to Judgment: God would send “fishermen” and “hunters” to hunt down the rebellious Israelites who defy His word. But in its fulfillment in Christ’s ministry, the sense is switched. Now God, in Jesus, is sending out fishermen and hunters to recover his people Israel as well as other nations. 

God’s desire to save all men, all nations, is a strong connecting theme between the First reading and today’s Gospel. Just as God in the Old Testament called Jonah and sent him to the Gentile Ninevites; so Jesus in the Gospel calls the Apostles whom He later will send to the Greeks, Romans, and other Gentiles. 

The response of the Apostles sets an example for us. Simon and Andrew “abandoned their nets,” whereas James and John “left their father… in the boat.”  They gave up their professions (“nets”) and family relationships (“father”) to follow Jesus. All of us need to be ready to do that. Of course, for many of us, following Jesus faithfully may mean doing a better job at our professions or caring more deeply for our families. So, the point is not that professions or family relationships are inherently bad; rather, it’s that nothing should take priority over obedience to God. 

In the Gospel of Mark, the Divinity of Jesus is not as clearly stated as in the other Gospels.  It is more subtle. His divine identity is fairly clear to the sensitive reader, especially in the opening chapters. In Judaism, it was not ethical to give up one’s profession or abandon family relationships for anything except to study the Torah, the Law of God. Only God and His Law trumped these other commitments. By calling them away from family and profession, not to study but to “follow me” (Mark 1:17) Jesus is putting Himself on par with God.

  What is Jesus calling you to abandon this week in order to follow Him?  For some, it may be truly dramatic, like quitting your job and entering formation for the priesthood or religious life. For others, it may mean dropping that hobby or obsession that dominates our thoughts and affections and keeps us from prayer and loving the people around us. For still others, it may mean ending a relationship that isn’t healthy and isn’t leading us toward Christ.

This requires discernment, and the assistance of a spiritual director can be of great help. Most of us are in need of humility in order to recognize where we have been sinful, where we have resisted what we know to be God’s will and word. We need to abandon that sin;  reaffirm Jesus as our King, and enter His Kingdom. 

[Passages from  Reflections on the Sunday Mass Readings for year B, by John Bergsma]

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Vincent Clemente