Why did the disciples answer Jesus' call?

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  • Psalm 62:5-12  • 1 Corinthians 7:29-31  • Mark 1:14-20

The gospel this week is about Jesus calling his disciples, particularly, Andrew, Peter, James and John, to become fishers of men. How is it that they dropped what they were doing, their livelihood, and family and way of life to follow Jesus?

Our authors this week look through the lens of the writer of the gospel of Mark, Paul's letter to the Corinthians, and even the Jonah's mission to the Assyrians, as well as the times in which they were written, to give us insight into why, and how, the disciples answered Jesus' call.

There is more to the term "evangelical," which comes from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion), or "good news, although "good news" it is! See Dan Clendenin's "Evangelicals: When Labels are Libels." The urgency of getting the good news out, in God's time (καιρός - kairos) is viewed in the urgency of the time ( Χρόνος - chronos) Paul's letter and the gospel of Mark were written. The challenge is to see, believe, and act in God's time, with the love, forgiveness and compassion God showed the Ninevites in Jonah's story, and which is recognized in this week's Psalm. As this week's gospel begins, "The time is fulfilled, the  kingdom of God has come near, repent (turn around - renew your minds and thoughts and hearts), and believe in the good news. That's what grabbed the disciples, and that is what can grab you and me.

See also, Beth Scibienski's "Irresistible Grace," Sister Kim Harris' Commentary,  Exposition, and Reflection (all separate short articles), and Fr. Rick Morley's "time fulfilled - a reflection on Mark 1:14-20."

O LORD, you have searched me and known me

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)  • Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18  • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20  • John 1:43-51

The lessons this week are about knowing, recognizing the truth, and recognizing the presence of God in our lives. Samuel recognized God's presence and truth with Eli's help, overcame his own reservations, and told Eli God's truth, as hard as it was.

Beautiful Psalm 139 is a confession and hymn of gratitude to God who knows us all our days, knit us together in our mothers' wombs, and is still with us.

Jesus knew Nathaniel before Philip called him, as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.

Professor Alyce M. Mackenzie helps us be aware of God's presence in our lives in "Recognizing Jesus: Reflections on John 1:43-51." The Rev. Kate Huey has a wonderful Reflection on the Scripture (especially the 139th Psalm), the dangers of self-proclaimed certitude, cautioning us not to use our own justification for judging others, and seeing the truth in God's beautiful reassurance that we are precious in his sight and magnificent examples of God's powers in creation. His presence in our lives is good news, indeed!

Baptism with the Spirit

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5  • Psalm 29  • Acts 19:1-7  • Mark 1:4-11

Every Epiphany we consider the baptism of Jesus. This year, in "The Politics of the Individual - Mark 1:4-11,"  Alastair Roberts gives us a good geo-political look at the time Jesus was baptized, and its significance then, and now.

In "The 'Great Wind' of God," Dan Clendenin provides a good exegesis of the term for "breath" or Spirit of God, considering one of the two creation stories in Genesis, the baptism of repentance by water by John the Baptist, and baptism of the "Spirit" which descended on Jesus, and later on a group of Ephesians baptized by Paul in the name of Jesus.

 

"A witness of hope in and for a broken, despairing world..."

Scripture for the Gospel, Christmas 2B: John 1:(1-9), 10-18
Scripture for the Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6  • Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14  • Ephesians 3:1-12  • Matthew 2:1-12

In reflecting on the Gospel of the first chapter of John for the second week of Christmas, Gary Carey notes when the light came into the world, there was darkness, but the darkness did not overcome it. He was in the world, but the people did not know him. He came to his own, but his people did not accept him. Hope comes in the midst of disappointment. In our times of deep disappointment, anxiety, division, and outrage, Carey, in "A World of Hope and Disappointment (John 1:1-18)" says there is a way to do something about the disappointment and outrage we sense and feel in our time.

Debra Dean Murphy, in "Nativity Politics," and Nancy Rockwell in "Strangers Bearing Gifts," discuss the gifts of the Magi, and their significance, traditionally, symbolically and practically. There is a light which has come into a world of hurt, disappointment and darkness that will not be extinguished, and which bears the gift of hope and life, even in death.