Word to the Wise
Monday, January 14, 2013 - Monday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 1:1-6 and Mark 1:14-20]After John had been arrested, Jesus came into 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."
The message is a simple one from a gospel that is the oldest and from which Luke and Matthew borrowed extensively. Mark doesn't waste words. The temptation is to say, "That was then - this is now!" No, the message then is the message now. "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel!"
Today is the first of the days of "ordinary time," but "ordinary" here does not necessarily mean "humdrum," but draws its technical meaning from the term "ordinal," meaning its place in a series. However, I think the meaning that would spring to mind first, even if equivocal, is important because it calls to our attention the "everyday-ness" of gospel living. Today is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand today! Repent, and believe in the gospel today!
I may have mentioned here before a sign on the door of a seminary classmate which read in BOLD letters: REPENT!* The * referred the eyes to the bottom of the sign which said, in small print, "If you have already repented, kindly disregard this message." Unfortunately I think many folks don't get as far as the bottom of the sign. They just don't see any need to repent! To believe in the gospel means that we must be prepared to make changes in the way we live and believe. There is much more to learn about Jesus' life and teachings and his death and resurrection, but The Gospel of Mark puts the message up front so we see the rest in its light! AMEN
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