Philip Raj A csc –
Readings: Heb 1: 1-6; Mk 1: 14-20
Today marks the first day of ordinary time in the Church’s liturgical calendar. On this first day, we read from the gospel of Mark, the earliest gospel written, which recounts the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
Mark tells us that Jesus began his mission by proclaiming, “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the good news.” It’s important to remember that Jesus came to bring us the good news from God—that through him, God is powerfully present in our lives. This message remains relevant today.
Jesus, now the risen Lord, continues to be God’s presence in our lives: a light in our darkness, life in our sickness and death, mercy in our failure, and strength in our weakness. The good news Jesus proclaimed calls us to believe in it, despite the challenges and bad news we often face. In times of difficulty, we are reminded to hold on to Jesus’ message of hope and trust in his presence. The call to “believe the good news” is not just for the past but continues to be Jesus’ invitation to us today.