Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
Repent and Follow Jesus

Today, Jesus came to Galilee to proclaim the Gospel of God. The Gospel He proclaimed was not the same as that proclaimed by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, the scribes of the people, and their leaders. The Gospel He proclaimed was the Gospel of love. He wanted to show everyone that the God He proclaimed is a God who actively reaches out to people, who loves people, and who even gave Himself up for the sake of the world.

The Evangelist Mark tells us that today, Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew, as well as James, the son of Zebedee, and John. He invited them to become His first disciples. Simon, Andrew, James, and John were called by the Lord while they were engaged in their respective work. They did not cling to what they had at that moment, nor did they worry excessively about their families. Instead, they chose to take the risk and follow Jesus, choosing the new path that Jesus pointed out to them. In doing so, they set an example for us.

Dear brothers and sisters! God often calls us through all the experiences we go through in life, enabling us to discover the plan that God has begun in us. Therefore, today, let us follow the example of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. In our daily lives, through prayer, let us discern the work that God has begun in us, courageously abandon everything of our own, and cling closely to Christ, walking toward eternal life.

Saint Simon, Saint Andrew, Saint James, Saint John, pray for us. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica