A way to live a mission in your daily work;
In your work, do it with competence so that your work adds to the lives of others.
Based on Mark 1:14-20
A way to live a mission in your daily work a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, 1/21/18.
John the Baptist is arrested. Jesus begins to proclaim the good news that God’s kingdom [time of God’s rule] is near [is in the immediate future. For Jesus, John’s arrest signals the completion of John’s work and that he, Jesus, must begin his own work.] People must repent [change their ways: “repent” means to turn around, to change one’s direction – that is, give up any old ways of self-centered living and live for others as for oneself – “love you neighbor as yourself”) and believe [or trust] the message that God’s kingdom is near.
As Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee, he sees Simon and Andrew casting their nets to fish. Jesus asks them to follow him. [To “follow” is to accept Jesus’ call to break with the past and to remake their lives.] Jesus says he will make them fish for people. They leave their nets and follow him. [They must have known him and his teaching from past time with him. To “fish for people” is a metaphor for calling others to follow Jesus as Simon and Andrew are beginning to follow him.]
Going further along the shore, he meets and calls two more fishermen, James and John. They are in their boat mending their nets. They, too, leave all, even their father and the hired men, and follow him.
[In his usual brief style, Mark is setting forth the basics of his Gospel. God has come in Jesus to take on the battle with evil – what is against the love and justice that God wants. To follow Jesus, give up self-serving ways to live God’s way of loving your neighbor.]
A theme: To follow Jesus is to center your life around how God wants us to live.
