January 25, 2015
3rd Sunday Ordinary Time
After John (the Baptist) is arrested, Jesus returns 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.†Mark, the evangelist, summarizes the proclamation in three lines. “Time†is not chronological but special and precious. We ask ourselves: “What am I doing with the “time†given to me.†“Kingdom†is not located on a map, a matter of geography. There is a sense of God’s reign or rule. Jesus is speaking of a kingdom of justice, peace, mercy and devotion to God and neighbor. “Repent†is much more than regret for sins. It is changing our minds. Literally, in Greek, it means: “going beyond the mind†and seeing our world differently, from the perspective of God. We “believe†in the Gospel. Belief is more than knowing doctrine. It is coming to know and love a person – Jesus. Jesus is God’s good news! On Saturday we had a baptism during Mass. I asked the parents what are they asking of the Church? Dad said: “For our son to be baptized.†Mom said: “For our son to follow Jesus.†In our Gospel, after proclaiming the Good News of God, Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and personally calls Simon & Andrew, then James & John to “come after him.†Only in following Jesus do we come to know him and what he asks of us.
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2nd Sunday Ordinary Time
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4th Sunday Ordinary
