Jesus continues the preaching ministry that John inaugurated and began to look for collaborators,

like-minded men who would help Him spread the Good News.

In today’s story he calls four fishermen at the Sea of Galilee — Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.

There was something remarkably compelling

about Jesus to cause these and others to follow him into an uncertain future.

‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘What are Jesus’ disciples meant to be like?’.

anyone can be a disciple.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of Yahweh

Came to Jonah a second time: "Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you." In obedience to the word of Yahweh, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day's journey and began proclaiming, "Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed." The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them.

 

Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I say this, brothers and sisters: time is running out, and those who are married must live as if not married; those who weep as if not weeping; those who are happy as if they were not happy; those buying something as if they had not bought it, and those enjoying the present life as if they were not enjoying it. For the order of this world is vanishing.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Mark 1:14-20

After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of

 God. He said, "The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News."

 

As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." At once, they abandoned their nets and followed him. Jesus went a little farther on, and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately, Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 

"Jesus called them and they followed him."

 Lectio Divina

READ: Jesus began preaching the Good News. He challenged people to repent and believe in the Gospel. Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee when he saw and called Simon and Andrew who were casting a net into the lake. They abandoned their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus also saw James and John, mending their nets. Jesus called them too. They followed Jesus, leaving everything behind.

 

REFLECT: Openness to God's grace is openness to the transformative power of God's word. Our life is in itself a grace. It is something that we receive. Unless we see this reality, we will never be open to God's word that has the power to change us. We listen to God's word with open hearts like those of children.

 

In 2019, Pope Francis instituted the Third Sunday of January as the "Sunday of the Word of God." This reminds us to continue our faith journey with the word of God to guide, sustain and transform us into the persons God intends us to be. Jesus calls us to follow him. Like the first disciples called by Jesus, we are called to leave our old selves behind and lead a life of grace. A life changed for the better is a life of grace.

 

PRAY: Let us pray that we may be more open to listen to God's word that, in turn, we may also lead a life of grace.

 

ACT: Let us make it a practice reading the Bible regularly.