3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Feast of Sto. Niño in the Philippines) January 21, 2018 [Mark 1:16-20*]

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mar 1:17)”

Jesus begins His public ministry by calling His first disciples to follow Him. In ancient Palestine, to become a student of a particular teacher means to follow him wherever he goes and stays. In fact, the Greek words used is “deute hopiso”, that means “come after me” because the disciples are expected to literally walk few steps behind Jesus. No wonder, that when the four first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John, are called, they have to leave practically everything behind, their works, their family and their hometowns. Thus, to become Jesus’ disciples are a radical commitment that entails great sacrifices.

However, if we bring back the life of radical discipleship to our time, who among us will be able to follow that call? How many among us will be willing to leave behind our work, family, and hometown for the sake of Christ? Not many. Only a few people are entering the monasteries or the convents. Even, those who are already members of religious congregations, we are allowed to keep in touch with their family. I myself am able to have a vacation every year and visit my family. It seems that the total discipleship remains a far-reached ideal for many of us.

While it is true that this kind of life is genuinely difficult and rare, yet we believe that the life of a true disciple is also available for all of us. The Gospel tells us that the first disciples leave many things behind, but actually, the disciples do also bring something with them when they decide to walk after Jesus. They carry “themselves”, the totality of their own persons. Within this person are their characters, knowledge, skills, ideals, and dreams. In short, they also carry with them their profession, their family, and homeland. This is why Jesus does not only call Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him, but He also is going to make them “the fishers of men.” Jesus knows that these guys are one of the best fishermen in the Galilee, and now Jesus invites them to offer the best they have for God’s purposes. To follow Jesus is not leaving everything behind as much as offering ourselves to the Lord.

When St. Dominic de Guzman preached against the heresy in the Southern French, he left the comfort of his church in Osma, Spain. Yet, when he preached, he brought along all the skills and knowledge he learned as a canon in Osma, and as a student at the University of Valencia. He left everything and yet, paradoxically, he brought everything when he founded the first religious Order that was dedicated for preaching in the Church.

We may not be able to leave our family, our profession, and hometown because we are responsible for the lives of our family and relatives, but with the same spirit, we can radically follow Jesus, by offering ourselves for God’s purposes. As parents in the family, what do we give to God, which may build a solid Christian family? As part of the Church, what do we surrender to Jesus, which may help her growth in the world? As members of society, what do we offer to the Lord, which may contribute to a just and growing society?

Today, the Church in the Philippines is celebrating the feast of Sto. Niño, or the Child Jesus. The image of Sto. Niño is the first to be introduced to the Filipino people, and His intercession has been very instrumental to the evangelization of this country. We pray to Sto. Niño that our self-offering may bear fruits wherever we are sent and live.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

*the reading is taken from the 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time