Welcome back to Ordinary Time! I hope that we will not take the name of this liturgical season literally. What I mean by that is that I hope that we consider every day that we have EXTRAORDINARY!! God loves you so much, and wants to fill your life with blessings. What’s ordinary about that?!
In our first reading, we begin a journey through the Book of Hebrews. The sacred author begins this letter by letting us know of the preeminence of Christ. “For to which of the angels did God ever say: You are my son; this day I have begotten you? Or again: I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?” In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, we read about the call of the first disciples. Jesus says to Simon and Andrew, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
I’m struck by this phrase, “Come after me.” Let’s think of this in a number of different ways. First, we know that this means “Follow me.” This can be like a general leading the troops. Jesus leads, we follow. Think of this, too, like a lover pursuing the one he loves. If you’ve ever been ga-ga in love, you know exactly what I mean. Lastly, think of this in terms of the word “after.” If you go after someone, that means that you let them go first. You put them in front of you. You give them preeminence. So, instead of putting yourself first, you put Jesus first. Do you see the subtle nuances of this phrase? Let us “go after” Jesus in every way; to follow Him, to pursue Him with all our hearts, and to always put Him first, in front of us.
Father, help us today and every day to “go after” Jesus in every way, and to encourage others to do the same. Amen.
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