FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD
Sunday 21 January 2024 Week 3
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. (Mark 1: 14-20)
How shall I live this Word? 
Today we celebrate the Fifth Day of the Word instituted by Pope Francis on 30 September 2019. The Sunday of the Word of God is a day “dedicated to the celebration, reflection, and dissemination of the Word of God to make the religious and assiduous familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures grow in the people of God.” The Sunday of the Word of God once again allows Christians to respond to Jesus’ tenacious invitation to listen to and guard His Word in order to let their hearts be shaped and thus be able to offer the world a witness of fullness and hope in every situation that life presents to us. The motto chosen for this year is taken from the Gospel of John: “Remain in my Word” (Jn 8:31).
Remain in the Word! This is what the first disciples did by responding to Jesus’ invitation. This is what we try to live and witness here in San Biagio every day: a life that puts the Word at the center as a foundation and lifestyle. Jesus comes to us; He reaches us in our daily lives, in our misery, in our tangled nets and invites us to look to Him; stand behind Him and follow His steps, listen to Him and imitate Him. All this without cancelling our identity. the disciples are fishermen and will remain fishermen, but bringing it to its fullness, valuing it, and recognizing the dignity of what we are.
Today I am taking a significant time to pause on the Word. Lord Jesus, teach me to remain in Your Word, to let myself be provoked and guided by You.
The voice of St Basil, Church Father
How does the Word want Christians to be? As disciples of the Lord, modeled only on what they see in Him and hear from Him. What is desired of those who believe in the Lord? It is to conform themselves with full certainty to the words of Scripture without daring to take away or add anything.
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Living Scripture 
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