2024-01-19 18:29:59
Dear brothers, peace and good.
Today’s Gospel is the announcement that something new begins. And it’s new for several reasons. A different voice sounds, following the preparatory words of John the Baptist.
The fact is that Israel had not heard the voice of God, expressed in the prophets. Neither before nor following the Baptist. However, the Ninevites, despite the reluctance with which Jonah speaks – with fewer words it cannot be said, and that following the scare and sinking of the ship in which he escaped – change, repent and turn to God, since the king to the last of the servants. It is seen that the Israelites were clumsy in understanding the prophets. They were blocked, their hearts were closed. And some pagans, not so much.
What happened to Jonah can be what happens to us, often. Many imagine God as a severe, avenging judge, who punishes the bad with heavenly lightning bolts and rewards the good. Seeing that God is compassionate, changes his mind when the inhabitants of Nineveh repent did not sit well with the prophet. He forgot that the God of Jesus is not what he wanted. He is a God who has no enemies, only lost children, whom he seeks and attracts with his love, so that they do not sin anymore and are holy, that is, happy.
Like Jonah, Saint Paul dedicated himself to the things of God. He was a person who highly valued everything human. He cared regarding family relationships, regarding the situation of children, slaves, women… But he cared more regarding relationships with God. What Paul wants is for believers to value the realities of the world for what they are: important, yes, but not eternal. The danger of these mundane realities is that they become absolute. They cease to be useful structures and become idols, which divert man’s heart from God, and make him lose the meaning of life. Because everything is relative, in relation to God. Even the most loved. Eye. That no one is free from these idolatries.
We say goodbye to John the Baptist, the last great prophet of the Old Testament, who disappears from the scene. And he takes over Jesus, who begins with a completely new style. He invites conversion, yes, but he comes giving “Good News.” It is not a tone of threat, but of joy. We hear the first phrase of Jesus, “the time has come and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” In that sentence, he sums up his entire message.
Because the time has come: we no longer have to wait for more signs or answers from heaven. Right now, today, at this moment the presence of God comes into action in the middle of our world, in the middle of our life, in the middle of our things. God is no longer found only in the temple: he walks our paths, our lakes, among our networks. We can, therefore, know and feel accompanied by God every day, and every minute.
God has already begun to do his thing: God has begun to turn this world into another, which is the Kingdom of God. It is not waiting for something for the followinglife, but rather “going beyond” the way things have always been. It is discovering that God the Father intervenes to make us feel the full force of his love, his preferences, his dreams for our world.
To be part of this Kingdom, you must have faith. It is what moves people to conversion, knowing that the change will be for the better, to be a better person. Saint John Bosco said that “being good does not consist in not committing any fault, but in knowing how to make amends.” Keep going, with faith, despite the falls.
And converting is not only trying to live as God wants, but also implies changing the way of seeing God, man, the world and even history. Remember that God is a good Father, not a righteous judge. That he treats everyone equally, regardless of how we like them. For Mark, the news of the arrival of the Kingdom of God is presented as a novelty that gives hope. Everyone can accept that invitation to conversion. Even the biggest sinner in the world. Because for God, that inveterate sinner is also his son.
It is Jesus who chooses his collaborators. It wasn’t usual. The disciples of the rabbis chose their teacher themselves. It is seen that Jesus’ gaze had something that dazzled, awakened faith, trust. He looked at you and transformed you. It was a look of hope and love. It was the look that says “I know you, I need you, I want you to be part of this Kingdom-building project.”
Why me? The chosen one feels that there are no reasons for that choice. Jesus does not look for good people, those who are compliant, those who are admired. He does not go to the temple, nor to the synagogues. He goes to the Lake of Galilee. He seeks out people in the midst of his daily business. And he makes an invitation. “Why don’t you leave what you’re doing, your usual places, your usual colleagues, your usual schedules…, and come do something else? We are going to spend time, work, energy on people. Let others take care of the fish and the nets. You and I are going to do something better.”
All of that takes a backseat, because a decision has to be made. Jesus already says it at the beginning: Convert and believe in the Good News. That is to say: one cannot remain indifferent to this urgent call. So right now, today, on this Sunday: come walk with me the paths of the Gospel. But now? Yes. No delays. He is not interested in those who want all kinds of explanations before leaving their “fish and boats.” Nor do you need those who keep looking back. Nor does he want to know anything regarding those who put conditions on him: «let me first go to…». That is to say: you cannot let this day pass without giving a serious and definitive answer. Everything must be sacrificed if it is an impediment to the new life to which Christ calls you.
It is regarding working on the same thing as Jesus: making this world different, where there is more brotherhood, more justice, more peace, more clean hearts, more forgiveness, more service, more generosity, more bread for all, more… We might add more things, but I think that, for today, is enough. A compelling call to do things differently, with others and always in the company of Jesus. And please, let us not think that this Gospel is aimed especially at “priests, nuns or religious.” These are ways of responding to which some will feel called. But they are certainly not the only ones. Each one has his mission in the Church. This Gospel is addressed directly to you, and asks to “move”, to leave the shore, the networks and the usual boats. Ask God to teach you his ways, as we have repeated in the psalm. Because they are paths of peace, joy and salvation.
Your brother in faith, Alejandro, CMF
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