He Calls You

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011215.cfm) reminds me that Jesus calls me to follow Him.

Not a lot of people have initiatives. Some volunteer to do something, but usually we wait for something or someone to invite us before we do something or join something. God knows this, and today, he is calling us. He is reminding us that he calls each and everyone of us to follow Him.

In the first reading, we see that God sent Jesus to us directly. No more prophets, he gave us his only begotten Son. And in the gospel, we see this son of God calling us not only to repent and believe in God, but also to follow Him. God wants us to follow Jesus so he can show us what it means to live for God. He wants to show us how we can believe and experience God. He wants to guide us how we can repent and prepare for God.

Jesus calls us to follow Him, but he will not force us.

Jesus is just waiting for us to respond to his call to follow him. He will not force himself to us. He will not make us his slaves and force us to do whatever he wants. He wants what is good for us, but it is up to us if we will choose to follow him or not.

May we take this invitation to follow Jesus and his ways. May we heed his call to get to know God more – by praying, attending mass and reading the bible. May we follow his message to repent by going to confession and living right.

Father God,

Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another reminder that you want me to follow you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I choose myself and my own happiness over following you. Help me make the decision everyday to surrender and follow you as I live my life. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 12, 2015

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 305

Reading 1 Heb 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways

to our ancestors through the prophets;

in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,

whom he made heir of all things

and through whom he created the universe,

who is the refulgence of his glory,

the very imprint of his being,

and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

When he had accomplished purification from sins,

he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

as far superior to the angels

as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

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?

And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:

Let all the angels of God worship him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9R. (see 7c)

Let all his angels worship him.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many isles be glad.

Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

Let all his angels worship him.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,

exalted far above all gods.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

Alleluia Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand:

repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 1:14-20

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.”

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 left their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them.

So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him