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| “The Calling of St Peter and St Andrew” by Jacob Willemsz. De Wet, the Elder, c.1650 |
Commentary:
Reading I: 1 Samuel 1:1-8
Commentary on 1 Sm 1:1-8
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel, using stories about Samuel, Saul, and David describe a one hundred year period of sacred history. This introductory passage speaks the genealogy of Samuel’s father and of the early life of his mother and family. Though Hannah was favored by her husband, she could bear him no children. This was seen at the time, at least by her rival, Peninnah, as a punishment from God. For his part, Elkanah, her husband attempted to console her, reminding her to look at her call as wife.
CCC: 1 Sm 1 489
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19
R. (17a) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19
Psalm 116 is a song of thanksgiving. This selection is an individual prayer and promise to God. The singer understands that the Lord is their salvation. A little confusing is: “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.” The meaning is that the death of God's faithful is painful to God, not that God is pleased with the death.
This selection from Psalm 116 also recalls the Passover ritual, referring to the “cup of salvation.” The psalm rejoices in God’s saving works in releasing the people from their bondage.
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Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
Commentary on Mk 1:14-20
It is noteworthy to observe that all of the Gospel accounts show Jesus not beginning his public ministry until after the active ministry of St. John the Baptist has ended. The “Voice” decreases while the “Word” increases. We see the charismatic power of the Lord in the call of the first disciples from St. Mark’s Gospel. They follow him without inducement beyond his simple invitation to follow him. It is also notable that three of these first four, Simon, James, and John, develop the closest relationships with the Lord of all the disciples.
CCC: Mk 1:15 541, 1423, 1427; Mk 1:16-20 787
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Reflection:
Can we imagine the thoughts of the true man Jesus who walks into the Jordan, and upon coming out hears the voice of God pronouncing him, in a formal way, to be his son. The man, Jesus was not quite ready to go into the world on his Father’s mission. First he had to be tested in the desert and defeat his enemy by rejecting temptation.
Once this was well done, he had a huge task in front of him. He was charged with bringing the whole word to God, his Father. To do this he needed help. He needed help because, as the great prophets had seen, the Son of God would be rejected, persecuted, and would offer his life for the life of the world. When he had fulfilled this mission, he would return to the Father. He needed others to take the work forward on earth.
Again, putting ourselves into the mind of Christ the true man, he would have returned from the desert and begun to look for worthy disciples to which he could entrust God’s great plan. He would have looked for men to do this as his Father had chosen the vessel to carry him in the womb. He did not choose kings, princes, or even the Chief Priests and Scribes. He chose men who were humble, faith filled, and who feared the Lord. It was no accident that Saints Peter, Andrew, and Zebedee’s sons, James, and John were called first. The Lord may have even recognized Saint Andrew. It is quite possible that Andrew was at the Jordan with Saint John the Baptist when the Lord approached him to be baptized. He was, after all, one of John’s disciples first.
What is remarkable to us was not just that all these working men said yes, rather it was that the did so immediately; even to the point where James and John left their father right in the middle of processing the day’s labor. The Lord did not promise them fame, fortune, or even comfort. All he said was: ““Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
With this message starting our short sojourn in Ordinary Time, we must ask ourselves: what must the Lord do for us to get us to take up his call? We have much more knowledge of what we are getting ourselves into. We can see what can be gained from it? Shouldn’t we be jumping at the chance to further God’s plan? What is holding us back?
Today our prayer is this: that we will clearly hear Jesus’ call to us and understand what he wishes us to do. We pray also that our hearts be open to sacrifice comfort and wealth for his sake, as those first disciples did. May this year be one in which we make giant strides for the Kingdom of God
Pax
[2] The picture is “The Calling of St Peter and St Andrew” by Jacob Willemsz. De Wet, the Elder, c.1650
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