The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year BReading 1: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm: 25
Reading II: 1 Cor. 7: 29-31
Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20
As I look out of my window at a snow-covered pine tree, I am in awe of its beauty. I see its branches in a position of praise to its Creator.
I also observe it's embracing the snow which He sends not only to enhance its beauty, but also to provide the necessary moisture for its survival and growth. By their very existence, such creations give glory to their Maker. They do not need to make conscious choices for their God.
On the other hand, we humans have been given free will so that we can truly choose to love our Creator. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus calling His disciples. Theirs is an immediate “Yes” to the Lord, leaving their fishing and families to follow Jesus wherever he is to lead them. We do not hear of a struggle to decide what might be easier or more to their liking.
There are two sets of brothers called with very different personalities and gifts. We do not know much about Andrew, except that he was the first called and that he convinced Peter to follow Jesus and probably drew others to Jesus. Then, we have the impetuous Peter who would later become the leader of the apostles, the first Pope.
The other brothers who are called, leave their nets and even their father to follow Jesus. James was one chosen to experience the transfiguration and be with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. That indicates a close relationship with Jesus. Finally, we hear of John, the beloved, the youngest of the apostles, and especially close to the Lord.
The variety of followers willing to put God’s call first reminds me of my two aunts, called to give their lives in a contemplative Dominican monastery. One was an astute businesswoman, who was prioress at the time when the Community had outgrown its small monastery. She was able to direct the building of the new monastery. However, she was a very serious person and probably was quite strict. On the other hand, her sister was the “sweetheart of the family,” a definite people person and very approachable. We were told by one of the Sisters that when novices had problems, it was to this aunt that they would go.
The Lord loves each one of us with our various gifts and personalities. What he asks of us is to put Him first when we make decisions. He wants our conscious choice to love and give of ourselves to Him. The rest of creation gives Him glory, but we can give Him the special love that He so desires.
Reflection Question: How can we be more intentional as we make our daily choices?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Nuestro Creador Primero
Cuando miro por la ventana hacia un pino cubierto de nieve, admiro su belleza. Veo sus ramas en una posición de alabanza a su Creador. También observo que está abrazando la nieve que envía no solo para realzar su belleza, sino también para proporcionar la humedad necesaria para su supervivencia y crecimiento. Por su propia existencia, tales creaciones le dan gloria a su Creador. No necesitan tomar decisiones conscientes para su Dios.
Por otro lado, a los seres humanos se nos ha otorgado el libre albedrío para que realmente podamos elegir amar a nuestro Creador. En el Evangelio de hoy, vemos a Jesús llamando a Sus discípulos. El suyo es un “sí” inmediato al
Señor, dejando a sus familias y pesca para seguir a Jesús donde sea que él los guíe. No escuchamos de una lucha para decidir qué podría ser más fácil o más de su agrado.
Hay dos grupos de hermanos llamados con personalidades y dones muy diferentes. No sabemos mucho sobre Andrew, excepto que él fue el primero en llamar y que él convenció a Pedro de seguir a Jesús y probablemente atrajo a otros a Jesús. Luego, tenemos al impetuoso Pedro que luego se convertiría en el líder de los apóstoles, el primer Papa.
Los otros hermanos que son llamados, dejan sus redes e incluso su padre para seguir a Jesús. Santiago fue uno elegido para experimentar la transfiguración y estar con Jesús en el Jardín de Getsemaní. Eso indica una relación cercana con Jesús. Finalmente, escuchamos acerca de Juan, el amado, el más joven de los apóstoles, y especialmente cercano al Señor.
La variedad de seguidores dispuestos a poner el llamado de Dios primero me recuerda a mis dos tías, llamadas a dar sus vidas en un contemplativo monasterio dominicano. Una era una empresaria astuta, que era priora en el momento en que la Comunidad había superado su pequeño monasterio. Ella fue capaz de dirigir la construcción del nuevo monasterio. Sin embargo, ella era una persona muy seria y probablemente era bastante estricta. Por otro lado, su hermana era la “novia de la familia”, una persona definida y muy accesible. Una de las Hermanas nos dijo que cuando los novatos tenían problemas, era a esta tía a quien acudían.
El Señor nos ama a cada uno de nosotros con nuestros diversos dones y personalidades. Lo que él nos pide es ponerlo en primer lugar cuando tomamos decisiones. Él quiere que nuestra elección consciente sea amar y entregarnos a él. El resto de la creación le da gloria, pero podemos darle el amor especial que Él desea.
Pregunta de reflexión: ¿Cómo podemos ser más intencionales a medida que hacemos nuestras elecciones diarias?
Reading your words about putting God’s call first reminded me of my childhood years growing up in my grandparent’s home. It seemed as though for almost everything I asked I received a response of “First things first” from my grandmother. Whether I asked to watch television, play or have a piece of candy her reply would be” get ready for bed first,” “do your homework first,” or “you need to eat dinner first.” “First things first” became a familiar quote to my children as I established priorities in my household.
ReplyDeleteWhile in grade school, “first things first” was associated with learning about God. I can remember learning the Commandments and the First Commandment, “Thou Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart, and with All Your Soul, and with All Your Mind,” sticks out to this day because the Sister was very earnest when she told us that God should always come first in our lives; that He desires to be first in our lives. Her teaching really impacted me and as far as I remember I attempted to think about God every day. The recitation of the Morning Offering in the classroom helped all of us to remember our true Source.
Somewhere between marriage, motherhood and working my practice of saying the Morning Offering slipped away. I returned to school to complete my degree in the mid 1990’s and was introduced to Stephen Covey’s two books, “First Things First,” and “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Both books emphasized the importance of putting first things first and setting priorities to achieve authentic success in all areas of our life. Today’s gospel gives a great example of “first things first,” applied as a spiritual practice. Peter, Andrew, James, and John certainly made a decision to put God first. They immediately left their families and livelihoods behind and followed Jesus. I find myself pondering if I truly put my relationship with God first. Is God first in my priorities? Pastor Rick Warren writes that living for God means making God’s agenda our agenda; making God’s will our will, and caring about what God cares about. “Whatever you want God to bless, put him first in that area.”
Jesus is our perfect model of putting God first. His entire life was characterized by submission to the Father’s will and prayer. Jesus’ life was a perfect example of loving God with all his heart, soul and mind. We read several times in the New Testament that Jesus left and went off to a deserted place to pray. Stillness, solitude and contemplation were an important part of Jesus’ ministry. We also benefit from this level of detachment from our daily tasks and obligations. For years I have adhered to the practice of starting the day with prayer and my experience is that starting the day off with prayer and reflection makes for a day filled with blessings. Stillness and emptying the mind is necessary if we are to hear God’s voice.
When it comes to making daily decisions and choices it is important to pause and ask if my want is God’s will or if I’m merely doing “my own thing.” I pray, “Thy will be done,” but often fail to apply it to my daily life. I have endured long standing consequences for doing what I wanted and not considering God’s will in my decisions. While typing this post, I received an email from one of my spiritual buddies and I was amazed at how synchronistic the message is to this discussion, thus I share it with your readers. Have you ever wondered, Am I really hearing from God? Well, according to Christian speaker and author, Joyce Meyer, “when God speaks, He gives us a deep sense of internal peace to confirm what we’re hearing. Even when He speaks to correct us, His Spirit of truth leaves a calming sense of comfort in our souls. However, when the enemy speaks to us or when we try to solve things with our own reasoning, we won’t be at peace. Practice listening for God’s voice, and waiting for the wonderful peace He brings.” Let us remember to make God first in our life and then live by the motto, “First things first.” Pat C., ASBS
The observation that "We humans have been given free will so that we can truly choose to love our Creator" certainly is a touching and inspiring one. May we always answer "Yes", like those disciples, whenever God "calls" us for anything!
ReplyDeleteIn the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus is proclaiming the fact that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The following excerpts are from The Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables, he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough; deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to 'know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.' For those who stay 'outside', everything remains enigmatic."
"The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God."
CCC 546,547
"The kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever.
Amen."