Jesus said to them:” Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

14 JANUARY (Mk 1,14-20)

The expression “Kingdom of God” occurs only once in the entire Old Testament. The revelation of the Kingdom was made to Jacob. However, we ignore the historical circumstances. This revelation is not mentioned in the Book of Genesis.

She preserved the first-formed father of the world when he alone had been created; And she raised him up from his fall, and gave him power to rule all things. But when the unjust man withdrew from her in his anger, he perished through his fratricidal wrath. When on his account the earth was flooded, Wisdom again saved it, piloting the just man on frailest wood. She, when the nations were sunk in universal wickedness, knew the just man, kept him blameless before God, and preserved him resolute against pity for his child. She delivered the just man from among the wicked who were being destroyed, when he fled as fire descended upon Pentapolis – Where as a testimony to its wickedness, there yet remain a smoking desert, Plants bearing fruit that never ripens, and the tomb of a disbelieving soul, a standing pillar of salt. For those who forsook Wisdom first were bereft of knowledge of the right, And then they left mankind a memorial of their folly – so that they could not even be hidden in their fall.

But Wisdom delivered from tribulations those who served her. She, when the just man fled from his brother’s anger, guided him in direct ways, Showed him the kingdom of God and gave him knowledge of holy things; She prospered him in his labors and made abundant the fruit of his works, Stood by him against the greed of his defrauders, and enriched him; She preserved him from foes, and secured him against ambush, And she gave him the prize for his stern struggle that he might know that devotion to God is mightier than all else. She did not abandon the just man when he was sold, but delivered him from sin. She went down with him into the dungeon, and did not desert him in his bonds, Until she brought him the scepter of royalty and authority over his oppressors, Showed those who had defamed him false, and gave him eternal glory. The holy people and blameless race – it was she who delivered them from the nation that oppressed them. She entered the soul of the Lord’s servant, and withstood fearsome kings with signs and portents; she gave the holy ones the recompense of their labors, Conducted them by a wondrous road, and became a shelter for them by day and a starry flame by night. She took them across the Red Sea and brought them through the deep waters – But their enemies she overwhelmed, and cast them up from the bottom of the depths. Therefore the just despoiled the wicked; and they sang, O Lord, your holy name Because Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb, and gave ready speech to infants. (Wis 10,1-21).

Wisdom shows Jacob the kingdom of God and gives him knowledge of holy things. We now know what the “Kingdom of God” is: it is the purest and holiest knowledge of God. The knowledge of God in its mystery of unity and trinity is given through Jesus Christ. It is also true knowledge of man and of creation itself. It is the true knowledge of sin and death. It is the true knowledge that we are all called to make our perennial knowledge, in order to live in, with and for it; inwardly and outwardly transformed by it. The “Kingdom of God” that Jesus Christ came to proclaim from near, is the truth of God, of man and of the universe; to which we all must get converted. One enters into the truth, he becomes truth and he is the Kingdom of God.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

The “Kingdom of God”, the truth, the grace, the Holy Spirit, are not given once to humanity. They must be given every day, hour and minute. This is why Jesus immediately calls those who tomorrow will have to go through the world, clothed with wisdom and truth, transformed into wisdom and truth, full of the Spirit and grace to proclaim and give every man the “Kingdom of God” . The gift of the Kingdom is their mission.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us real “Kingdom of God”.