[1st Week in Ordinary Time. 1Sam 1:1-8/Psa 116:12-19/Mark 1:14-20].
The Gospel text that begins the first part of the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year highlights the Good News, Faith and Repentance.
Following his baptism by John and identity by the Father as his Beloved and pleading Son, Jesus begins his announcement of the Good News.
His message is that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, all must believe in the Good News.
For the spread of his message, Jesus picked up some people to join him as collaborators. His first choice of fishermen is eloquent evidence of the nature of the saving work.
Repentance with belief in the Good News guarantees the salvation of souls for the kingdom that is comparable to catching fish.
For the nature of the harvest or the work of capturing souls for God, we have the example of the household of Elkannah, son of Jeroham of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph (First Reading).
It involves sad people, those who cause others to be sad, those who are fruitful and others who are barren, those who love and care and others who don’t (ibid).
Into whichever category we fall, we must repent and believe in the God News and repent for salvation.
Having been caught by the grace of Christ, we join in fishing out souls for the kingdom. The net for catching men is the Good News of salvation with the love of God and neighbours.
