Jesus' gentle invitation to "Come, follow Me"

It's an invitation to trust, learn, and walk with Him.

A call to active discipleship, transforming ordinary lives for a greater purpose.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

There was a man

From Ramathaim, in the hills of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. He was son of Tohu, son of Jeroham, of the clan of Zuph.

He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah had none.

Every year Elkanah went to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts at Shiloh.

The priests there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas. Whenever Elkanah offered sacrifice,

he gave portions to his wife, Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

 

To Hannah, however, he gave the more delightful portion because he loved her more, although she had no child.

Yet Hannah's rival used to tease her for being barren. 

So it happened every year when they went to Yahweh's house.

Peninnah irritated Hannah and she would weep and refuse to eat.

Once Elkanah, her husband, asked her, "Hannah, why do you weep instead of eating?

Why are you sad? Are you not better off with me than with many sons?"

 

Ps 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19 

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊ 

Mk 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 in 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 ：

A gentle invitation to come and follow.

Notice how Jesus called his first disciples while they were engaged in their daily chores.

This is often how we encounter God - not in grand gestures but through a gentle invitation to come and follow.

May we recognize how God calls and invites us in the ordinary moments of our lives.

Like these fishermen, we, too, need to learn to readily follow the Lord wherever He leads us and in whatever He invites us to do.