Monday January 14, 2019
Introduction
Today we begin to read from Hebrews. God speaks to us in nature, in the people around us, in the events of life. Yet we are often deaf to his words and his silence. Few listened to his messengers, the prophets. Finally, he spoke through his Son Jesus. The Letter to the Hebrews stresses this point: in the Gospel we hear Jesus speak and proclaim his Good News. But is it good news to us today? Do we accept it as words and the language of his actions addressed to us personally?
In the gospel, Jesus begins to preach the coming of the kingdom of God among people. He calls for penance and conversion and chooses his first disciples. These same words are addressed to us today: “Repent, be converted, be fishers of people for the kingdom.”
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you invite us, disciples of your Son today,
to be wholly converted to the gospel
and to help extend your kingdom.
Give us hearts open to the good news
and the generosity to share it
with people of our day.
We ask you this through Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Reading 1: Heb 1:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?
And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9
R. (see 7c) Let all his angels worship him.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
Alleluia Mk 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
Intercessions
– For the Church dear to us, that the Lord may help it to keep renewing itself, so that it may stay on the road of the gospel and that people can live the gospel as good news, we pray:
– For those who leave their nets to follow Jesus the Lord, that they may so live the gospel as to make it visible and tangible, we pray:
– For all of us in our communities, that the Lord may help us to take the gospel seriously and to live it in close union with the Lord, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these gifts of bread and wine
we place our goodwill
to follow your Son
wherever he calls us.
Let our encounter here
with your Son and with each other
mark a new beginning for us
of unity and loyal love,
that the seed of your kingdom
may grow among us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we know what you can do
with weak, fallible people.
In the strength of your Son,
help us to do what surpasses our forces:
to be your people
and to be to the world
the sign that you love everyone
and that friendship and justice
are no empty words for you and for us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
The time is now. Repent and believe the good news. Come and follow me. Be my disciples. Jesus spoke these words long ago. He addresses them here and now to us. May you heed these words, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
This annual cycle begins with Jesus’ proclamation that the reign of God is at hand. What that fulfillment means is the theme of today’s reading from Hebrews. Jesus, as God’s “last word,” stands at the center of the reign of God. As God’s Son, he exists eternally, long before the end-time reign. He is the “blue-print” of God in the whole process of creation, as well as being the one for whom all things were made. Creation is from him and for him. Now, in time, he has atoned for our sins through his death and reigns in glory with the Father.
The response to God’s goodness in Christ is discipleship. “Follow me.”
The sacrifice of the first followers may seem slight—some nets and a few boats. But for them it meant giving up home and livelihood, not an insignificant thing in any age. A response to Christ is never effortless, but it comes from a grateful heart. Today’s Psalm speaks of the Most High touching the earth and each one of us with his goodness.
Points to Ponder
Christ, the beginning and end of creation
Christ, God’s blueprint
Christ and the angels
Disciples as fishermen
Christian community, a new family.
