Let us go and serve the Lord

1 Sam. 1:1-8, Mk 1:14-20. Today being a day after the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, we begin the Ordinary Time of the Year. In this period between the seasons of Christmas and Lent, where there is no specific mystery that is being celebrated, the Church invites us to respect the family life as the nurturing place of faith. The Scriptures begin within family life, where we first discover who we are and what we can hope for. Today's first reading describes Samuel’s vocation to be a prophet as a move that began with his devout parents. However, in due time one is called to go beyond the known and familiar and take on ones personal vocation. Abraham felt called to leave his country and father’s house and he went to the land that was shown him by God. In today's Gospel, Simon and Andrew were with their partners, whom Jesus called to leave that occupation and travel the country with Him, spreading His message to as many people as possible.

If Jesus sometimes seems only vaguely present to us, He is still near and calling us to follow Him generously, as they did. In the providence of God, we will have our own ways to spread that message. Those four Galilean fishermen were never the same again. If Jesus says to us: “Follow me,” and we respond generously, our fulfilment will be safe under his guidance. Any sincere encounter between people can have lifegiving effect. The meeting of Peter, Andrew, James and John with Jesus was such a life-giving moment for those fishermen. The encounter they had at the lakeshore is a special one that challenges us to focus on Jesus. Jesus is not just a figure of history, belonging to the past. He is the living Lord, still present in His Church and in the world, constantly available for conversation with us in the course of our day to day lives. He wants to meets us, as He met Simon, Andrew, James and John while they were going about their work as fishermen. The Lord speaks to us in various ways, especially in the Eucharist, in the Scriptures, through listening to others, listening to nature and listening to our own hearts. If we experience the goodnews of God’s unconditional love, we will also hear some kind of personal call to share the goodnews with others. In spirit, we all are meant to bring Christ to the world, “I will make you fishers of people.”

May the Lord continue to strengthen us, so that we may have the necessary strength and courage to carry on living our lives with faith despite the challenges and trials we may have to face along the way! Amen!! Good morning and have a productive week!!!