The Fulfilled Time

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time Year 1, January 11, 2021

Texts: Heb. 1:1-6; Ps. 97:1.2b.6.7c.9; Mark 1:14-20

Jesus, in today's gospel reading, says, "The time is fulfilled". The time referred to here is the time of the reign of the Messiah that is promised by God in the Old Testament. Hence, He says, "and the kingdom of God is at hand". It was the time they were waiting for. The time is the time of salvation, but the Jews conceived it in a material sense.  For them it was time to gain freedom from foreign rule, the rule of Romans, and become sovereign. It also includes the time for them to exercise dominion over other nations. To gain freedom from Roman rule and to dominate other nations they had to prepare for war. However, they forget their problem, the reason for their subjection. Their subjection was as result of the fact that they had abandoned God. They needed to return to God so as to gain freedom and exercise dominion. Hence, Jesus called them to repentance: "repent, and believe in the gospel." The word 'repent' is a call for a change of heart, a change of one's ways of life; it is a call to live the values of the gospel. It is also a call to follow Jesus, and this is clear in the scene that followed.  He called Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow him; and they left everything to follow Him. There should be nothing that we cannot leave for Jesus. The repentance is a call for discipleship, to learn and embrace the life of Jesus. When we repent, we are to follow Jesus, living the kind of life he lives.

The time is the right time to come back to God, time to seek his face. Every day is the right time for us to repent and live out the gospel message. We are to live every day as if it is our last day on earth. God has not revealed to us the last day we are going to have on earth because He wants us to take every day seriously and live it as if it is the last day.

The first reading refers to the time as the last day. It is said, "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages." Here, the time is the time for the full revelation of God in His Son, no longer in fragmentary way. It is the time of grace, the time of truth and God's mercy. It is said, "When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs." Hence, the time, which we are enjoying now, the time of Jesus Christ, is the time of grace and mercy. Jesus Christ has won for us God's grace and mercy; He is now interceding for us before the Father. Then, It is the right time to seek the face of God. 

Today's Readings also remind us that God keeps time, He always fulfills His promise. What He promised in ages past He has fulfilled in our own time. This calls us to build our trust in God and to wait patiently for His time to be fulfilled, for He will never fail.

God our Father, we thank you for Your faithfulness and love, we beg You to grant us the grace to always wait for Your time. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke