Third Sunday of Year (B)
Mark 1,14-20.
Today’s gospel reading begins with the arrest of John the Baptist which prefigures Jesus’ own arrest later. John was “handed over” which is Mark’s preferred phrase to describe Jesus’s arrest too.
John has set the stage for Jesus who begins his ministry, in Galilee, by preaching the gospel, “the good news from God,” or the God-news. It reveals to Israel that God’s promises in the Old Testament are now being fulfilled in the person and mission of Jesus Christ in whom the kingdom of God is being made visibly and tangibly present. The kingdom of God is the breaking in on the world of God’s power, love and peace to replace the reign of sin, and selfishness and fear which obtained before Jesus’ coming. Mark is the only evangelist to use the term “gospel” in his writing – nine times.
Repentance, which is a complete turnaround of the direction, the values, the goals of our lives, and faith in Jesus Christ are the appropriate responses to the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom in Jesus.
Simon and Andrew were called as they cast their nets in the lake and James and John as they were mending their nets in their boat. The first pair left their nets (their livelihood) immediately and followed Jesus and the second pair were called immediately and left their father (relatives) and his hired labourers behind.
Usually disciples sought out a good teacher. Here the initiative is with Jesus. He seeks them out and calls them. To follow him as disciples means leaving behind familiar people and things. To respond to his call is to begin to live a new life; a change of relations with their families is singled out by Mark. Three of these – Peter, James and John – became a core group present with Jesus in key moments of his life, at the Transfiguration, and in Gethsemane. Being a disciple will present them with many costly challenges down the road.
Their call has two stages: to follow him, to get to know him, form a relationship with him, and to become fishers of men especially when he goes back to the Father.
He calls each of us too, in Baptism and Confirmation to a God-given mission in life. Do you know yours?
By reading, reflecting and meditating on the gospels, we appreciate the good news that Jesus is for us.
Mark uses Gospel nine times in 1,1,14,15; 8,35; 10,29; 13,10; 14,9; 16,15. It would be a very fruitful exercise to look up these references and note the people of whom or to whom, and on what occasions, this term was used. Why is the gospel story good news for you?
Father Geoff O’Grady