Vol. 11, No. 1, January, 2006

The Kingdom of God is at Hand!! Part 1
by Sr. Brigid Meierotto, S.N.C.

In this teaching, we will accept the word of God, the Scriptures into our hearts and minds, letting them be light to us. The Scriptures are the inspired word of God which has the power to accomplish what it says, for us. Yes, for us, right here. Right now!

The Scripture we are reflecting upon is Jonah 3:1-5; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20. Read these passages slowly, prayerfully.

As you read the Scripture, in your heart ask the Holy Spirit to explain to you the message that the Lord has for you personally. Do not doubt that the Lord Jesus will do this for you, because that is why he came, so that you can get to know and to love Jesus. "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:25f). Ask the Holy Spirit what you desire from him...something like this: "O Holy Spirit, Jesus said that you would teach me all things and I believe him. Teach me what it means for me that the kingdom is at hand; what should I be doing about that?! Teach me how I should be following Jesus! Teach me to put all my hope and trust in Jesus, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit."

Mark writes that after John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came on the scene, proclaiming:

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and believe in the gospel."

Jesus then walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and called to four fishermen:

"Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."

Now, can you guess what these two fishing teams did? They followed Jesus -- right then and there! Simon and Andrew, brothers, left their nets and followed Jesus! Then Jesus called the other team, also brothers, James and John, and they left their father Zebedee in their boat with the hired servants and followed Jesus.

Did they follow Jesus because they were sick and tired of fishing? Or, did they hear the call of Jesus and recognize the urgency in his call? This seems most likely:

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand..."

These four men who right here on the shore commit themselves to be Jesus' disciples, experience a surge of excitement in their hearts and without any hesitation they drop their old lifestyle and step out in community with Jesus. They have an inner sense that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand!

The prophet Jonah was also called by the Lord, but he didn't respond in the same way as Jesus' new disciples. Actually, maybe the response of Jonah was very much the same as most people called by the Lord today. The Lord had to call Jonah twice before he left for Nineveh. Jonah was not convinced that he should say yes to the Lord. But after spenting three days in the belly of the fish Jonah put up no argument when the Lord called him the second time.

Now, Jonah had thought that his mission of calling the people of Nineveh to repentance was useless effort because, of course they would not listen. However, listen they did and their response was:

"And he cried, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!' And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them."

Closing prayer: Thank you, Spirit of love, Thank you for teaching me what it means for me that the kingdom is at hand; what should I be doing about that?! Teach me how I should be following Jesus! Teach me to put all my hope and trust in Jesus, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit." Now the prayer to Mary:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen!"