THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

PRAYER MOMENT  

Wednesday 15 January 2014

 THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

Pause. Imagine the place: Capernaum in the first century.

Reading. “On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew” (Mark1:29-39)  

Reflection. The first chapter of Mark is peppered with the “immediately” or “straightaway”. Mark seems intent on conveying the urgency with which Jesus started his ministry. As the Americans say, “he hit the ground running.” We have a description in chapter one of a whole day and it is crowded with activity. Often, in our country today, we see people sitting by the road or around the shops. They seem to have the whole day to chat. There is nothing wrong with that and there is a place for it in our lives. But at the same time there is urgent work to do to spread the reign of God. We need that sense of engagement today in 2014 if we are to make things happen.

Prayer. Lord, you often lacked time on your journeys even to eat or rest. Teach us to balance times to chat with times to be urgently engaged in your work.  Amen.