Walking along the shore of the lake, Jesus begins his mission: he announces that his father’s kingdom has come. In order to help me appreciate what that good news implies, I shall prayerfully reflect on the 1st reading in today’s Mass, and then reread the Gospel.
”Repent” is the first word out of Jesus mouth that Matthew records in his gospel, and it introduces the theme that pervades the rest of his gospel. Conclusion: There is no way to enter into the kingdom and to progress in it than by conversion, repentance, so as to be open to his call to me.
Jesus called those at their daily work to follow him, so he does now. Do I hear his call? What is the ‘all’ he asks me to leave? How have I respond? How shall I respond?
He continues today to restore strength and vigor to the weak and stumbling, just as he did when he walked along the shore of the lake. He alone can give me the force to live life to the full. So? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” And, “Do not fear for I am with you. Trust me.”