Summoned January 19

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Hebrews 8:10

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:13-15

Piety

Prayer/Poem By Edward Hayes

Implant within my heart, O God,

the fiery zeal of a Jeremiah,

the conviction of a Ruth or Rebecca

and the zest of a Francis of Assisi.

Stir my slumbering soul,

that it might sing a song of passion and devotion,

drunk with dancing joy and desire for you,

my divine and loving Friend.

May my heart be as hot as the heart of Moses,

for all your children burdened by slavery,

for all who feel oppression's steely heel,

or suffer rejection in an alien land.

May I, like your son Jesus,

be consumed with zeal for you, Divine Beloved,

for life, for justice and for peace;

for all that I know in faith.

Fill me with zeal, O God.

Amen+

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/011907.shtml

Nothing small happens on a mountain. Just the altitude makes you naturally feel closer to God. Today, Jesus returns to the mountain where he serves in the role of “mediator of a better covenant, enact[ing] on better promises.”

Mark skips the first time a mountain loomed large in the New Testament narrative. During the forty days in the desert, Jesus was alone with his temptations. On that first mountain, the Devil tempted Jesus with temporal power over the world. This time, he calls his closest followers to be the Chosen Twelve. Other times the Good News narrative rises up include 1) after feeding the 5,000, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray alone while the disciples went ahead of him to cross the Sea of Galilee; 2) the transfiguration; and 3) Jesus teaches about his death while on the Mount of Olives with Peter, James, John and Andrew.

Today, Jesus initiates the Christian mission life from the mountain. There are at least three parts of that mission revealed to us. First, a disciple must “be with” Jesus.” Second, the disciple must “go forth” into the world to preach the Good News. Third, the disciple must “drive out” sin. “But the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” Mark 13:10.

In addition to going up to the mountains closer to God for important events in His ministry, Jesus (through Mark) uses the image of a mountain in his preaching. In Chapter 11:23 you will find the message, “Have faith in God.”

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

The natural image of a mountain as a challenge to climb, as an obstacle to overcome, serves as a fitting image for Jesus when describing the challenge of life in His day or when we read it about our current and future days.

Action

If Jesus were going to call his disciples, would your name be among those He called out? What can you do today to make sure Jesus has you on that list?

What mountains stand in your way before you can respond to the call of the Lord?

Are you prepared to accept all the commitments required if you accept your mission with Jesus – 1) be with him, 2) go forth to preach and 3) drive out demons?