The readings for today are about calling. Today is also celebrated as the Baptism of the Lord. We have the readings from Ordinary time, but there are still some similarities in theme. In the Gospel, Jesus is calling for disciples. He called Simon and his brother Andrew and James and his brother John, and they left their jobs and their families and followed Jesus. Jesus says he has come to fulfill the scriptures. The kingdom is at hand, and those he calls will become the new Christians. This is a sort of baptism as well. Jesus calls them to follow him, and they leave whatever they are doing and they do follow him.
The first reading incorporates a theme of calling as well. In this reading we see Jesus’ authority. God calls Jesus his own begotten son. In times past God has spoken through prophets, but now we have God’s own son. God has never called the angels his own children or indicated that they were begotten from him. In fact, God says all the angels shall worship Jesus because he is the true Son of God. Jesus, as God’s son, has the authority to call others to follow him, and by doing this he fulfills the prophecies of the scriptures.
Jesus has come, God’s own son, to fulfill the scriptures. By his authority as God’s son, he calls others, including all of us, to follow him.
Tamora Whitney
I teach in the English department. I teach composition and literature and Critical Issues -- a class that has a component on Jesuit values.
I like writing these reflections because it makes me think more deeply about the scripture and think about how to integrate the ideas into my own life and how to share these ideas with others.
