Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 The Triumph of Yahweh   “Yahweh is king! Let earth rejoice, the many isles be glad! ...saving justice and judgement the foundations of his throne.”

Mark  1:14-20  The Galilean Ministry  “…Jesus went into Galilee.  There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand.  Repent, and believe the gospel.’…”

It is as though in today’s readings as we are being introduced to Jesus beginning his ministry, we are first led through readings which establish both his credibility and that of the Father.  Paul in his Letters to the Hebrews refers to words from early scriptures to describe Jesus, “You are my Son, today I have fathered you… I shall be a father to him and he a son to me…Let all the angels of God pay him homage.”

We begin our walk with the early days of Christ’s ministry in Galilee.   He has just been baptized by John in the Jordan followed by spending 40 days in the desert to prepare for the work at hand.  First prayer, and then out to find some help.  The first four disciples are brought on in those early days: Simon, Andrew, and Sons of Zebedee, James and John leave their boats to become fishers of people.

I am the most moved by the words as quoted above in Hebrews 1:1, when Paul reminds us of the significance of God’s spoken message as it is delivered by His son.  When I read these words, I felt so privileged to be given the opportunity to live in the day when I could hear the words of Jesus.  I felt connected to the people of that day when Jesus walked the earth, and felt grateful to them and to all who had passed this connection in the Word on to my generation.  Then I realized I wasn’t to just rely on the people whom God had given that experience, but rather I was to rely  on His Spirit.  God had spoken to His Son through the Spirit.

In Mark just before today’s reading, when Christ’s baptism is being described, they speak of the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove as he comes out of the baptism waters.  Then the Spirit drives him into the desert where he remains for 40 days.   I am reminded that Christ communicated with his Father through the Spirit as well and certainly we find Christ in prayer through much of the readings.   So once again, I am reminded of the significance of listening to the Spirit, so as to know God’s Spirit and know when you are being Spirit led.