January 9, 2023 – Mark 1:14-20

From today and in the coming weeks we will follow the Gospel of Mark which, after Jesus’ baptism and temptations in the desert, continues with the beginning of His mission.

The Gospel passage consists of two parts: a summary

of Jesus’ mission and the call of the first disciples.Jesus’ mission takes place at the right and opportune (kairos) time, a time prepared by the entire Old Covenant.

Moreover, the whole message of Jesus is centered on the idea of the “Kingdom of God.” The word “Kingdom” translates the word Greek basileia, which here does not refer to a place, but indicates God’s power, power based above all on love. Where God’s love prevails in our world, we can say that there the Kingdom is.

Conversion is the fundamental and necessary step to be part of the Kingdom. Conversion or metanoia means a radical change in thinking, about the meaning and purpose of life and how life should be lived. Jesus calls us to a radical conversion, invites us to take to heart his vision of life.

Conversion can be achieved by believing in the Gospel and accepting the teachings of Christ imparted to us by the Church. But something more is asked of us here. In calling us back to believe in the Gospel message, we are asked to live our lives and model them on the example of Jesus himself.

To be good workers…

– We need to be totally committed to following the Way of Jesus, symbolized by the ready abandonment of boats and family members made by the first apostles.

– God and Next: Jesus points to two movements: to go after Him, and to go to the men. It is the essential twofold direction of every life. To go after Christ, to seek to put our steps in his footsteps, multiply his deeds, prolong his actions. And then to go toward our neighbor, guarding with our lives other lives, and dilating together the spaces we breathe.

– Our vocation: We really don’t have much to boast about — we just have to invoke from God much mercy and thank him because, in spite of everything, we still stand behind Jesus and still try, day after day, to live with him.

P JOBY KAVUNGAL RCJ