The First Reading
reminds how from darkness, a situation so dire and seemingly inescapable, God will rescue us. We must endure the struggles, often of our own making in some way,
but He will bring great good to everything if we cooperate.
The
Psalms
rejoice in this, in the rightness of turning everything to God. EVERY good thing comes from Him.
All troubles and anxieties – He will wash away.
All difficulties, HE will resolve in the way that is best.
Day by day and moment by moment, we try to do the next right thing as He wants and all will be
great
beyond our comprehension in the end - which might not be until heaven...
Addressing a conflict between Christians,
St. Paul
redirects people back, not to human leaders, but to God.
Let there be no striving for power or honor, nor putting down others because you feel you are in a more righteous position,
but seek God’s way – reconciliation and peace.
The
Gospel
begins by indicating that John’s arrest was a signal for Jesus to begin his public ministry with followers.
He waits for God’s time – a long wait! Men of 30 were married and their children were close to marrying, yet He lived a single life,
waiting for God the Father to reveal the “chosen” time.
But when He begins, it is by building a community that would be the first people in visible His Church on earth.
Likely known, at least by name, to at least some of those He called, Jesus asks them to give up everything and follow Him.
What had happened earlier in the days and weeks leading
to this moment and preparing them for the moment
when they were called to abandon everything and follow Him?