Monday of the
First Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 1:1-8; Mark 1:14-20)
We may wonder how Elkanah, obviously a pious Israelite,
could have two wives. The Mosaic
covenant allowed divorce, but it insisted on one wife at a time. One commentator reasons that at this early
stage of Israel’s history, marriage regulation was downplayed. It was like our Catholic precept of attending
mass on holydays of obligation. Many
pastors don’t even announce upcoming days of obligation and provide only one
mass. The commentator further suggests
that Elkanah took a second wife in order to assure descendants.
Today’s gospel indicates a contrary dynamic to the concern
about descendants. James and John on
hearing Jesus’ call leave their father behind to follow Jesus. They renounce family for the sake of the
kingdom. Mark’s gospel, as the others,
relate the in-breaking of the kingdom with Jesus, the Son of God. Some may call this development a “big thing.” That term, however, makes the coming of the
kingdom just one important event among others.
The gospel writers are saying, on the other end, that this is the event
to end events. The coming of the kingdom
of God represents the end of history. It
merits the abandoning of family
concerns.
So we are left to wonder again. How can history continue if it ended with
Jesus’ dying and rising from the dead? As
incredible as it may sound, we live in an “in-between” time waiting for Jesus
to return for the ultimate ending. This
is a time for preaching his Lordship so that all human beings may experience
his salvation. It is time for us to prepare
for his coming with works of mercy.
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