January 10, 2011 Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Heb 1:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?
And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.

Ps 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9

Responsorial Psalm

R. (see 7c) Let all his angels worship him.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. Let all his angels worship him.

Mk 1:14-20

Gospel

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 left 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 him.

REFLECTION

After the arrest of John Jesus started proclaiming the Good News in Galilee.“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” His very first message was not only imparted in words but in action. He started forming the community of apostles. First he called the two brothers, Simon and Andrew, then he called the sons of Zebedee, James and John.  He wanted the whole world to understand that it is in communion with one another that we will enter God's kingdom. It is not an individual venture but a community effort. We need to help one another. This is not  a selfish struggle to save one's self alone. We should strive to bring others. Even to the point of catching them like a fisherman catches fish. How did we respond to this very first message? Have we brought others to Jesus by our faith or have we been an occasion of division and condemnation? Man has been created in the image and likeness of God. And God's image in seen in the Trinity, an image of communion. Have we been true to this image of God in us?