By Jacob Perikala csc –
Readings: Heb 1:1-6; Mk 1:14-20
In today’s Gospel we witness Jesus calling his first disciples and they follow him instantly. Christ is the author of my life. He has every right over my life because it is his life; I am just a tool in his hands. Christ calls us every moment to follow him and to do his mission in our own creative way. But we are fully absorbed in the world that even if I am called I do not pay attention to his call. God does not see the external features like wealth, physical body, or talents; rather he sees the hearts.
Jesus comes to us daily not in glorious form, but in the form of humble people like parents, friends, and guardians. He asks me to continue his mission. Presently my mission is to give hope to the people who I come across in my life and to care for his creation and the creatures. I can do my mission even without going out: by doing my responsibility properly, not wasting food or time, and lending a helping hand to the people who are in need of my help. All these things are very easy in words but when it comes to practice it is demanding as well as tough.
We are called to proclaim the good news by our very life. We are all one way or the other caught up in the web of the worldly pleasures, and it is very difficult for us to come out of our comfortable zones. Jesus calls me to follow him, I must be ready to follow him by leaving the boats of the world and take up my daily crosses and follow him. If I am ready to respond to his call like the disciples in the Gospel, I will be considered as a worthy follower of Christ.