Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

 

January 24, 202

Readings:

First Reading: Jonas 3: 1-5, 10

Psalm 25 “Teach me your ways, O Lord.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 27-31

Gospel reading according to Mark 1: 14-20

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Homily:

John was arrested and put to prison by King Herod because he said and proclaimed that it was not lawful to take Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.  He did not like what the prophet John talked about him and his concubine, but he loved to hear his voice.  He was also afraid of John because he was telling the truth.  Then, Jesus came to the scene after the arrest of John as a sign or signal that the time has come for Jesus to fulfil the will of God.   “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′.” (Mark 1: 14-15).  Jesus is now ready to fulfill his mission, the plan of God.  Jesus started his ministry in Galilee.  But of all places, why in Galilee? Why not in Nazareth where he was lived and raised to manhood?  Galilee (Hebrew: הַגָּלִיל‎, HaGalil; Arabic: الجليل‎, romanized: al-Jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.  Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (Hebrew: הגליל העליון‎, HaGalil Ha'Elyon; Arabic: الجليل الأعلى‎, Al Jalil Al A'alaa) and Lower Galilee (Hebrew: גליל תחתון‎, romanized: Galil Tahton, Arabic: الجليل الأسفل‎, romanized: Al Jalil Al Asfal). The Jewish historian Josephus claims that there were 204 small towns in Galilee, but modern scholars believe this estimate to be an exaggeration. Many of these towns were located around the Sea of Galilee, which contained many edible fish and which was surrounded by fertile land.  Salted, dried, and pickled fish were an important export good. The Hebrew form used in Isaiah 8:23 is in the construct state, g'lil ha-goyím (Hebrew: גְּלִיל הַגּוֹיִם‎), meaning 'Galilee of the nations', i.e. the part of Galilee inhabited by Gentiles at the time that the book was written (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee).  So, Galilee is a free, democratic district or town.  The Jews and the Gentiles were living together harmoniously as compared to the south of Israel (in Judea and Jerusalem) where Gentiles were not allowed to live and mix with the Jews. Therefore, it was easy for Jesus to preach the Gospel of God, repentance and the Kingdom of God to anybody who can listen and accept or deny his teaching and preaching.  He preached to the peoples whether Jews or Greeks or Romans, gentiles, slaves or freemen, foreigners and strangers; therefore, all peoples of walk of life.  Galilee can be a model of (modern) inter-religious dialogue where anybody can express his/her creed, faith, beliefs, and religion, etc., freely and without hindrance from any authorities.

While walking and meditating along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, whom he met already and became acquainted.  He even renamed Simon to Peter (Cephas), after he was introduced to Jesus by Andrew; when Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist came and followed Jesus, and stayed with him.   “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 abandoned their nets and followed him” (Mark 1: 16-18).  He called the two, who were casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus invited them to come and become “fishers of men” instead of catching fish.  The two brothers left their boats and nets and followed Jesus.  There are many opportunities that Jesus called us to serve him through our brothers and sisters in need, but sometimes we did not listen to his calling and did what we thought best for ourselves.  Do we give a space to the call of Jesus even in a short time of service?  Are we ready to give time and energy, and even our whole being, our property and family, our works to give way to the call of Jesus?  

Jesus walked farther with the two new recruits and came across to the family of Zebedee.  He saw James and his brother John mending nets.  They too were fishermen. “He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.  They too were in a boat mending nets.  Then he called them.  So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1: 19-20).  He called them, too, to come and become fishers of men.  Immediately they left their father Zebedee with the hired men and the nets and followed Jesus.

Of all people in Galilee, even in Judea and Jerusalem, why did Jesus choose fishermen to become his helpers to catch men by proclaiming the Gospel of God, of repentance and the Reign-Kingdom of God? They were ordinary people, without proper education, of knowledge of the Books of Moses and the Prophets and the History of Israel, no constant contact to their neighbors and nearby country, without wealth nor power.   They were not trained to lead people, but still Jesus has chosen them.  What things are there that these fishermen have to be selected among many people?  Why not the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, priests, etc., in Jerusalem they were educated, well-versed of the Torah, the Prophets and the History of Israel? They have power and authority and they can lead people, why not them? Because the lives of fishermen are tested by waves, sea thunder and typhoons, and storms, they are strong and courageous, and patience in waiting for the coming of the school of fish, and with high spirit which the people in Jerusalem and the rest of other people do not possess.  And they are easy to train in the work heavenly things for they were innocent if not ignorant, they are clean in mind, spirit and soul, as compared to the chief priests, scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees, even the Sanhedrin were already full of knowledge, all knowing and hard to teach new heavenly things.  Jesus knows that these fishermen can endure all the hardships which his mission demanded.  When they follow Jesus there is no turning back as they go as fishers of men.