Simon recognises Jesus’ divine power in the miraculous catch of fish. He prostrates himself before Jesus and addresses him as Lord (kýrios), a title that combines the elements of power and authority. Simon and the others are filled with astonishment or fear to which Jesus responds in characteristic manner: ‘Do not be afraid!’ Jesus does not provide these fishermen a remarkable catch merely in order to cancel the frustration they experienced in an unsuccessful night of fishing. The miracle became an acted-out prophecy revealing both his own mysterious authority and the ministry to which they are being called. Jesus declares that a turning point in their lives has been reached. The commission states: From now on . . .!
In the readings for this week we see the reaction of those who hear the word of God. Jeremiah was told that he had been called to be a prophet even before he was born. Yet he had to fight against the people to whom he was sent. Those who heard Jesus were first amazed at his words and then later sought to throw him off a cliff. We too are often quite resistant to the word of God. Neither Jeremiah nor Jesus recoiled from the implications of their call, regardless of the resistance they experienced. Instead, they entered even more deeply into the call to love. Lest he brood over his injuries, Jeremiah is reassured of God’s protection. And, without aggressively demonstrating his strength when he was threatened with harm, Jesus exhibited patience and kindness. Both men bore and endured their bitter misfortunes. This is the image that is placed before us as an example for us to follow.
Dear Parishioners of OLA & St Agnes’,
Another year nears its end, another most extraordinary year, it must be said, and we ask once again, ‘Where has the year gone!’ I thank you most sincerely for your continued support, in so many ways, throughout 2021…, …our sincere best wishes for Christmas and 2022.
May this Christmas be a joyous one, savouring the opportunities we have to gather as families and friends, thanking God for all the blessings we’ve come to know, including, above all, the gift of His Son, the One whom we remember, at this time, as the little babe of Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord.
May God bless you and your families, in this holy season.
Fr Alan Fox PP …on behalf of the Parish Team
The response of the child in Elizabeth’s womb is reminiscent of the joy that filled David as he leaped before the ark of the covenant. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed her faith in the child that Mary was carrying. In both cases, it was the realisation of being in the presence of God that caused them to rejoice. It is as if Mary is the ark and the child within her is the glory of God. There is a sequence of recognition that begins and ends with Mary. At the sound of Mary’s greeting the child in Elizabeth leaped for joy, signalling to her the presence of her Lord in Mary’s womb; at this, Elizabeth recognises the blessedness of Mary’s unborn child and, through him, the blessedness of Mary.
Although John himself lives an austere life removed from the ordinary pursuits of people, he does not ask his inquirers to dissociate themselves from their own lives or occupations. Rather, he challenges them to continue where they are, but to carry out their daily responsibilities with concern for others, with honesty and integrity. The expectation that filled the people was eschatological; they were looking for the Christ, the ‘anointed one’. John was not this one. His baptism with water was a ritual of repentance and cleansing; Christ’s baptism of the Spirit will purge and transform, and his coming will be a time of judgment, when the wicked will be separated like chaff from the wheat and will be thrown into the fire. John’s ministry calls for the change of heart required of those who would be saved from this distress.
That God keeps faith is also the message of St Paul to the community of Philippi – the one who began this good work in you, will see that it is finished, or brought to completion, before the Day of Christ Jesus. In Paul, we also see the strong sense of ‘End Time’ hope that dominated early Christian theology. Paul is writing in a deeply personal manner, clearly knowing and loving this community. If you were a pastor away from your community, what type of letter would you write to them? Paul writes with joy and thanksgiving, readily expressing his feelings of wanting to be with the community and shares with them his prayer. It is a letter of great encouragement. The readings proclaim that God is coming to us. If we make preparations in our busy lives so that there is some room amidst the pre-Christmas shopping, the holiday plans, the office parties, we will know a God who is with us. God comes to those who want and wait, which is why it is the poor and the ‘little ones’ who first hear the news.
While the basic message is one of comfort and reassurance, the second part of the gospel adopts a more admonitory tone. Believers must be like people expecting visitors but unsure as to when exactly they will arrive. The time of waiting requires attentiveness and a sharp spiritual sense. Anything that dulls the spirit (debauchery and drunkenness) or causes it to be distracted (absorption in the cares of life) must be avoided. Advent is a time for examination in such areas. It is also a time for exploring our deepest longings and desires and allowing them to surface. They can ride up, so to speak, on the rich Scripture texts that the Church puts before us at this time. God’s only wish in our regard is to communicate to us the life and love for which we long. Each Advent should expand both our longing and our capacity to receive the gift of God.
The kingship of Jesus is the subject of Pilate’s interrogation. ‘King of the Jews’ was a messianic title of the descendant of David who would inaugurate the reign of God. The Jewish leaders considered Jesus’ messianic claim blasphemous. The title made political claims that challenged the absolute authority of Roman control. From the perspective of the Roman occupiers, such revolutionary contentions were dangerous. Jesus is asked: ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answers: ‘Yes and No!’ His kingdom is not of this world. It does not belong to it. However, it is in the world. Both the Jewish leaders and the Roman officials had reason to be concerned about Jesus’ claims. Though not of this world, his kingdom would indeed challenge both religious messianic expectations and the political powers of this world.
The whole of chapter 13 in the Gospel of Mark is devoted to a discourse about the future. In the section preceding this week’s passage, Jesus has foretold the destruction of the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem. He has also predicted war on a massive scale and the persecution of his followers. Now, in this passage, Jesus predicts the return of the Son of Man and the fulfilment of the kingdom of God. Why does the gospel include such an extended description of the collapse of the world as it was? Because that’s exactly what was going on around the community of this gospel writer! This gospel is understood to have been written somewhere in the period 70-75 CE. In the year 70 CE the city of Jerusalem was besieged by Roman troops who stormed the city and destroyed it. As a sign of complete disdain for the people of Jerusalem and a mark of overwhelming victory, the Romans burnt and completely destroyed the Temple in the heart of Jerusalem. For the entire Jewish community, this was absolute devastation. The destruction of the Temple surely marked the coming of the end times – the day of judgment and completion of this world. The community gathered around this gospel writer were no less affected. In the midst of this despair and fear, the followers of Jesus are challenged to remember the teachings of the one they follow. This passage is written for them as an encouragement to not give up in the face of what appears to be overwhelming odds. It is a call to hope.
In the gospel, Jesus condemns ostentation. Some men wore religious robes in public, hoping that people would consider them prayerful. Others sought the most important seats in the synagogue or at banquets. Still others made sure that their temple offerings were acknowledged. In contrast to this, Jesus pointed out the offering of a poor widow. She offered the smallest coins in circulation at that time, but she gave out of the generosity of her heart. Jesus spoke of the source of the offering. The wealthy donated from their surplus, what they did not need. The woman gave what she herself needed. Her total giving implied absolute trust in God. The passage that opened with a condemnation of the false piety of the unscrupulous, closes with praise of the genuine piety of the simple.