Mark 1:16-20 “in a snailshell”
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
©️2022 by Gloria M. Chang
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 abandoned 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.
Mark 1:14-20
Like the first patriarch Abraham, the first disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ left homes and families in obedience to the call of God. The word “amen” comes from the Hebrew verb aman (to confirm, support), which is the root of emunah (faithfulness). The first appearance of the verb aman in the Hebrew Scriptures is in Genesis 15:6 in which “Abram put his faith in the Lord” who told him, a childless old man, that his descendants would be as countless as the stars in the sky.
The adventure of following God into the promised land, leaving behind comfort and familiarity, is a continual “yes” or “amen” to the Lord in trust. The sons of Zebedee and the sons of John abandoned their nets and worldly security for the greater certainty of following Christ, the Fisher of the fishers of men.
Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
Simon, Andrew, James and John gave their amen!