Working for the Word

Focusing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: This is the time of fulfillment; Repent, and believe after me; followed him

To the point: At the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus reveals his mission to call others to repent and believe in the Good News, for “the time of fulfillment is at hand.” At the same time he calls followers to cooperate with him in his mission. This call is made not just to Simon, Andrew, James, and John, however, but also to us. Jesus' pronouncement and call, his mission and our discipleship, are not time-bound. Today remains the time of fulfillment: now we are the persons called to collaborate with Jesus to complete his mission.

Connecting the Gospel …

… to the First Reading: The call to repentance delivered by Jonah to the people of Nineveh demanded they make a radical change in their manner of living. Jesus makes the same demand: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

… to experience: We prize independence. The Jewish, Roman, and Christian annual calendars all date from founding events: Jewish from the Exodus, Roman from Romulus and Remus, and Christian from Jesus. By contrast, the kingdom of God and its “time of fulfillment” are not tied to human configuration or chronological time; they are the timeless reality of God's saving presence.

**From Saint Louis University