TO sinners God is kind and compassionate, and He shows His ways to the humble and guides them to justice (Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9). The Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus calls for repentance and faith, and summons to discipleship (Mark 1:14-20).
Lord, show me Your ways
IN Psalm 25 the sinner is concerned with learning the right path in life while hoping for forgiveness of his sins. It opens with a petition for divine guidance. The psalmist, keen to be doing God’s will, earnestly wants to find out God’s “ways,” “paths” and “truth;” he begs to be given knowledge, to be taught and guided. He desires to have a way of life in conformity with God’s will or with the ways He teaches and pleasing to Him. He seeks to go on the road of righteousness in God’s sight; he asks for wisdom and insight into God’s saving ways.
The psalmist looks at God as his saviour. He is coming from, and wants out of, his sinful past. He needs and begs for divine mercy and the forgiveness of sins. He prays that God would look at him and remember him in their covenant with kindness, and not be focused on his transgressions from the beginning, of the sins of his youth and stupidity. The perspective that gives the psalmist hope is the covenant with God, hence he appeals to God’s tender compassion (rahum)—that deep, loving bond as between a mother and the child she carried in her womb. He reminds God of His loving kindness (hesed) as from of old. The psalmist is confident that, in His goodness and righteousness, God will show a sinner the way and teach the poor and the humble (anawim) His ways.
God’s kingdom is at hand
AFTER the arrest of John, Jesus takes up his own ministry aware of the danger that goes with prophetic teaching and witnessing. But the good news, the gospel of the kingdom of God must out. The time of waiting is finished; the extraordinary time (kairos) of fulfilment of all expectations is come. Down through the ages the prophets have looked forward to this future time when the reign of God will be established and when all will be faithful to God unlike the many times of the people’s infidelity and sin. The promised new life in God’s mercy and compassion is here and now possible.
Jesus’ bold declaration that the kingdom of God is at hand means that God is now actually at work in history to bring about a better world. This joyous development, as it emphasizes divine graciousness and loving kindness, demands a response from those loved and to be saved. Jesus explicitly commands that the people repent and change their lives. He calls for metanoia (conversion of heart), meaning a pagbabagong-buhay (transformation of life), the essence of which is a pagbabalik-loob (return to God). Jesus likewise calls for belief in him bearing the good news that the kingdom of God is truly at hand.
Come after me
A conversion with faith in Jesus means for the brothers Simon and Andrew a life of discipleship. It does not consist merely in learning ways and wisdom from him, but following him and joining him in his mission for the kingdom of God. They are summoned to be Jesus’ co-workers, also “fishers of men.” In this imagery of casting nets into the sea, the carpenter of Nazareth identifies with the fishermen of Galilee as these are called to come after him: saving people from the world of darkness and of destruction from the evil dweller of the abyss. The take-off from their way of life as fishermen puts the stress on their ordinary life as the point of encounter with Jesus and even the place for carrying on the task for the kingdom of God.
The abruptness of the call and of the response underlines the radical nature of the new relationships in the kingdom of God. Leaving one’s father in a patriarchal society indicates the totality of the fatherhood of God in the imitation of Jesus. The disciples are not just to learn what Jesus teaches, they are to share his life as their new life, and eventually in his name and with his Spirit to teach, preach, heal, serve and bear witness to God’s reign. The call by Jesus is shown bypassing questions about duties to one’s family, options, personal benefits, retirement, and even the point of practicality “Fishing? Where is your net?” (John 4:11).
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Alálaong bagá, as the psalmist begs to be taught God’s way and to be shown how he is to behave in response to divine goodness, Jesus in the reality of the kingdom of God calls all for a change of heart and summons people individually to be one with him in the service of others. In the conversion which entails realignment of priorities God’s reign is absolute; everyone is called to participate in the transformation of life.
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio-streaming on www.dwiz882.com.
1 comment
We are placed on this earth in our physical body to learn how to grow in spirit and understanding. This is what most of us forget. The only Bible verses worth quoting are those that point out the duty of the faithful, verses like “I am the Way,the Truth and the Life” “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” “Love one another as I have loved you.” We are to embrace the TRUTH that gives LIFE OF THE SPIRIT. Taking up our cross means CRUCIFYING OUR WEAKNESSES AND WORLDLY WANTS. Loving “the other” is LOVING THE WAY HE LOVES US – both the sinners and the Godly. There are no short-cuts or halfway measures if we desire to follow HIS WAY.