Monday, January 14, 2013

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 1:1-6; Mark 1:14-20)

The elderly priest felt frustrated. Every place he telephoned, it seemed, was answered by a machine. All he wanted was to hear a human being so that he could take care of some business. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews is cognizant of a similar need in the first reading today.

The letter indicates that God has changed His interface with His people. Rather than communicate through interpreters, He is going to speak directly by sending them His Son. No more will He seem remote and His message arcane. Rather He will be like a neighbor who knows the people’s situation and has undergone their problems.

Today we begin afresh our journey with Christ. He calls each of us just as he called the sons of Jonah and of Zebedee. It is a privilege to follow him. He will heal us of our hurts while he teaches us his ways. We want to stay close to him.