Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The speaker is excited to share the Gospel of Mark in the Roman Catholic Sunday Lectionary. They emphasize the importance of opening our hearts and spirits to the Holy Spirit. The passage being read is from Mark 1:14-20, where Jesus proclaims the Gospel of God and calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. The speaker highlights the significance of the kingdom of God, repentance, and the call to mission. They encourage listeners to reflect on what stands out to them personally and to meditate on the word. They also draw attention to the beauty of Jesus as the bearer of good news. The speaker concludes by inviting listeners to continue reflecting on the Gospel and to place the word deep in their spirits for growth throughout the week. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. Beginning with this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are joined by St. Mark and his account of the Gospel. The Roman Catholic Sunday Lectionary follows a three-year cycle. The Sundays in this year, year B of that cycle, will most often come from the Gospel of St. Mark. Most Scripture scholars consider Mark to be the first Gospel written. It is, too, the shortest of the four Gospels. St. Mark seems to be anxious in the telling of Jesus' story, so eager for his readers to move from one spectacular event to another. Let's prepare ourselves, very intentionally opening our hearts and our spirits to begin our journey with St. Mark. We take a moment to quiet ourselves. If you will, take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come, Lord Jesus, allow your Holy Spirit to bring your word to life in me. May I hear your voice, good Shepherd. The first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina is simply to read the passage. We read to become familiar with the narrative and to begin to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we read from Mark's Gospel, Chapter 1, verses 14 through 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. Wait 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 abandoned 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 Jesus. We begin, and Mark makes a point of emphasizing this, in the Galilee, in a Roman province that is already most obscure, Palestine, this area of Palestine, the Galilee, is on the most peripheral edge of that periphery. Jesus' great work begins in a small, out-of-the-way place. So it is often with us in our lives. Jesus moves in small, subtle ways, drawing us into his sphere of love. This passage is constructed in two parts, notice. Verses 14 and 15 offer a brief but so poignant summary of Jesus' message, his proclamation. In verses 16 through 20, we have the first of the call narratives, Jesus beginning to gather the new people of God. Pay attention, please, in the first section to that phrase, the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom will be the center of Jesus' proclamation. So often in the weeks ahead, we will have cause to ponder it and to seek to embrace it in our personal lives. Notice in the call narratives the emphasis given by Mark to what is left behind. Simon and his brother abandoned their nets, which is to say their livelihood. James and John, their livelihood as well, that boat is left behind, but also their father, their very family. There is, too, the call to repentance. In the Greek, the word is metanoia, changing one's mind, one's way of looking and living in the world. There is as well the call to mission, to fish for people. Friends, note this, we are at the beginning of the great Jesus adventure. For a second time now, we read our gospel text. Be sensitive as the passage is read to how it speaks to you personally. What stirs your emotions, captures your imagination, stimulates your mind as you hear the reading? Become aware of what stands out for you, a word, a phrase, an image. So once again, we open ourselves to the word as we read Mark chapter 1, verses 14 through 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 abandoned 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 Jesus. We come now to the second step of Lectio Divina, this praying of the gospel, and that is meditation. In meditating on the word, we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out to us, to savor the word, phrase or image from the gospel that speaks most powerfully. What is speaking to you at this moment? I love that little word, gospel. Jesus comes to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. To really focus in on that reality of gospel is significant, especially being here at the beginning of the new church year, starting at the beginning of Mark's gospel again. Mark tells us, first and foremost, that Jesus came proclaiming a gospel. Look at this with me, will you, through the lens of that most beautiful prophetic voice of Isaiah. In his 52nd chapter, the 7th verse, we hear this. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, your God is king. This is good news, this is gospel, the arrival of peace, salvation, the presence of God who is a king who can be trusted. But you know what I love most about what Isaiah highlights about this gospel, this good news? That first line, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news. Isaiah makes clear the true good news is not in the words, but the bearer of those words. At the start of this new liturgical year, our hearts, our eyes are pointed to Jesus who in his person bears healing and peace for us. Oh, Lord Jesus, may I be filled at this moment with delight in your good news, yes, delight in you, the bearer of good news. Friends, let me invite you again to continue to sit with this precious gospel. Notice how it stirs within you. Speak to Jesus about what his word is saying to you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit where the Lord might bring it growth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you.