Jesus sees the arrest of John the Baptist as a signal to begin his ministry of preaching. “The word of God is not chained,” declares Paul the Apostle (2 Tm 2:9), and so John’s proclamation is echoed and even brought to fulfillment: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (v 15). Significantly, Jesus begins by calling his first set of disciples: the two pairs of brothers, all of them fishermen. Their mission is being reflected in their trade: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (v 17). Jesus shows that preaching the Good News is not his own work alone; others will be involved. He will choose them to be part of the Twelve who will be close to him and learn from him, and later be sent forth to preach, making them “apostles” (from apostoloi, “those who are sent”).

Simon, Andrew, James, and John would become important leaders of the Church, but when Jesus first saw the brothers, they are simple fishermen casting their net in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus found them in their workplace, engaging in their trade. That day seemed like any other day; there is nothing special to it. But there is a call to a different kind of occupation, a new adventure. And in leaving their nets to follow Jesus, their lives would forever be changed. Echoing the poet Robert Frost, they chose the “road,” the one less traveled by—and “that has made all the difference.” We can imagine that long after, when the Apostles would share to the community of believers their testimonies to the Lord Jesus, their narrative would begin with some stranger passing by the shore as they are fishing.

First Reading • 1 Sm 1:1-8

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city to worship the Lord of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ministering as priests of the Lord. When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the Lord had made her barren. Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her that the Lord had left her barren. This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 116

“To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.” or “Alleluia.”

Gospel • Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.