We begin now the first week of ordinary time. These are the informative and wonderful days, weeks and months when we are privileged once again to examine closely the entire life’s work of Jesus of Nazareth: the Messiah: the God/Man: the Savior of the world. Once again we will see exactly how it all came about – how it all unfolded as the most dramatic love-story ever told.
The first reading today, from the Book of Samuel speaks of Hannah, who was reproached for her barrenness – something with which she was born – something of which she was incapabable of removing. This is a reminder of the Original Sin that all of us are born into this world with – and which we are incapable of removing by our own efforts. (Yet we know that something, in fact, could be done about it – and was done – by the coming into our world of Jesus / Messiah / Redeemer.) But for the time being, in this story, Hannah bears the humiliation of the reproaches against her – and can only place her hope and trust in God to help her – which he, as we will see, in fact, does.
In the gospel passage, Jesus, now baptized, begins his public life by a simple yet o so powerful statement: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel!” Repent and believe in this GOOD NEWS!
Jesus announces: “Here I am” “I am the fulfillment!” “I am the Kingdom” “Reflect upon and consider your lives in comparison with me, commit yourself to change and believe this Good News that I am telling you: your slavery to Original Sin and its effects is coming to an end!”
Then, Jesus selects his first four helpers in the proclamation: Simon (Peter), Andrew (his brother); James, Son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were all fishermen – and Jesus promises to make them from now on “fishers of men” – who would gather into one net, the immense catch of the Father’s children!
Today let us rejoice that Jesus: Messiah / Redeemer / Savior came into this world. Let us rejoice as we see his public life beginning to take shape. Let us rejoice that we were among those “caught” by the untiring work of the Apostles and their successors. Let us rejoice in the privilege we have of being sent by the Church to help catch others and bring them home to God.
The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.
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