"FOLLOW ME"

Meditation for Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Heb 1:1-6; Mk 1:14-20)

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he  appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages.” So God has made His ultimate STATEMENT in Jesus; He is the living Word of God. “He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of His nature.” In fact, the life of Jesus Christ, in His words and actions, stands as a DECLARATION and FULFILMENT of God’s message to His faithful. This is an act of love; God came closer to us that we might not be far from Him.

Therefore, our response to the new communication of God to us must be more than that given to the prophets. Since Jesus is the MESSAGE, we listen to Him, not just as an ‘audience’ standing at a safe audible distance. But we follow Him as the WAY and destination of our LIFE. We hear His words and understand His silence, since He speaks to our conscience and innermost heart. Now that the word of God is alive, we hear Him by living His life. Hence, Jesus calls us in the Gospel of today to repent.

“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” As we repent of our sins, we are made available for the Kingdom of God with its joy and peace. The gospel message invites us to take this positive step towards the Kingdom that has come close to us. Thus, Jesus said to the fishermen of Galilee, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Think about the simplicity, the clarity, urgency and authority behind this divine summon! The ultimate task of the disciple is to hear when He speaks, and to follow where He leads. The response of Peter, Andrew, James and John is our model in following Jesus: “And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday January 11^th, 2021
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