In our first reading, which is the beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews, the inspired writer calls the son of God, through whom God now speaks, the “refulgence” of God’s glory.1 “Refulgence” is what we might call an old-fashioned word, one that is not used much these days.
“Refulgence” means something like “to shine brightly” or, more succinctly, to be “radiant.” Indeed, the Son, Jesus Christ, radiates His Father’s glory. He does this, according to the inspired author, by being the very mark, or sign, of God’s character. This helps make sense of Jesus words to Philip: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”2
This passage also that in speaking to us “through the Son,” something new and greater than anything that has happened before is now occurring. Not only is the Son greater than the prophets, He is above the angels. As our responsorial implores: “Let all his angels worship him.”3
This seems fitting for the day after our observance of the Baptism of the Lord. Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan was a full theophany in which the Father, Son, and Spirit make themselves manifest. Immediately after His baptism, Jesus spent forty days in the desert fasting and praying. Our Gospel today is Saint Mark’s account of what began to unfold after Jesus’ time in the desert, namely His Galilean ministry.
What does God say to us through His Son? He says: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”4 Those who heed the Lord’s call to repent and believe (it is important that “repent” comes before “believe”) are then called to follow Him, to be His disciples.
True repentance consists of following Jesus, making discipleship not the most important thing in life, but as the life that is truly life. All other concerns become secondary at best, even family and business concerns. What the Lord calls us to is radical.
Simon and Andrew as well James and John set the bar for Christian discipleship. At no point did Jesus tell them to go home, pray about it, seek counsel from friends and family, and get back to Him. He said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Without hesitation, “they abandoned their nets and followed him.”5
These men recognized the in-breaking of God’s kingdom into the world in and through this radiant man, Jesus of Nazareth. At that point, there is little doubt they could not have articulated what it was that made them leave everything and follow Him. I think perhaps the Lord didn’t tell them where they were going because He is the starting point and the destination; He is the kingdom of God in person.
Our readings for this Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, which falls very early in the New Year, pose a question: What concerns, worries, fears, hold you back from following Jesus, from giving yourself to Him wholly, that is, body, blood, soul, and humanity? What nets do you need to abandon?
1 Hebrews 1:3.↩
2 John 14:9.↩
3 Psalm 97:7.↩
4 Mark 1:15.↩
5 Mark 1:16-20.↩
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