Sunday January 24, 2021 - Third Sunday in ordinary time - The reign of God is very near. Convert and Believe in the Gospel - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1, 14-20

Jesus came to earth to announce the Kingdom of God. He therefore exhorts men to repent and be ready to receive this Kingdom of God. The coming of the Kingdom of God to earth is inherent in the coming of Jesus. Jesus chose Galilee to begin announcing the Kingdom of Heaven because it was the place where there were the most pagans. The Gospel will set man free, freed from the bondage of sin and death. So the gospel brings the light of life, those who are in darkness have seen the light shine. The Good News changes the lives of those who receive it. Jesus said, "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you". The Word of God transforms the inner being into a new person, a converted person and a loving person.

We have heard that proclaiming the Gospel is a community act. Jesus called his disciples, fishermen from Galilee. Simon and his brother André; James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John: men, all going about their jobs to subsist. Those he called immediately left their nets, even leaving their father to become fishers of men. The reason is that when we decide to follow Jesus, we have to give up something. The Gospel does not tolerate idleness but sends immediately to the work: to bring salvation to men. Jesus came to earth to save men. Therefore, all who are determined to follow him must be willing to cooperate with him.

So, we who are Christians do not adhere to an ideology but follow a Person, Jesus Christ the Word who became flesh. Since baptism, we have been called to proclaim the Gospel, to erect the Kingdom of God all around us, witnessing to the truth, to charity and piety, to the love of God. All our actions, imbued with this love, are already transforming the world around us according to God's will. Amen!