Responding to the Call

 

Mk 1:14-20

Jesus Announces the Good News

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

The time had come, John the Baptist had prepared the way, and was now in prison and Jesus was gathering his helpers. They responded instantly to his call, although they may not at the time have fully understood it. They left their families and jobs to be with Jesus. What trust, dedication! For two thousand years men and women have left their families and jobs to answer the call from Jesus to follow him more closely. Even in our muddled world, the call still goes out and people still answer.  Over the past 50 or 60 years, however, the responses have been less than needed and for sure "the laborers are few" as we see from the closing of Catholic schools and parishes. Perhaps we might direct our prayers today and during the upcoming season of Lent toward the need for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, the need is great and the laborers are few. Send us more workers into the field to carry on your work. Amen.