We’re back in ordinary time after Christmas, but ordinary time is only possible because of Christmas. Before, God spoke through the prophets, but Christmas was the prophecy. So now from the first reading, “he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe.” We’ve just come through Christmas, when Jesus was born, human, like us, with us. And now in ordinary time we see the result of that – our religion and our faith. Our God was born among us and lived with us as we do, not separated but experiencing humanity.

From the Gospel, Jesus, who has become human like us, calls us to be like him. He says “This is the time of fulfillment.” He calls Simon and Andrew, he calls James and John. He tells them to stop what they are doing and come with him and follow him. And they do. They leave their old lives behind and go with him.

God became like us so we could become like him. We see his birth at Christmas, and now in the ordinary times, we need to fulfill that promise. We need to go with him and follow him.