In the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel, John the Baptizer is arrested and Jesus comes on the scene. He stops by the Sea of Galilee and calls family fishermen to become fishers of men. Hence, we often have the sermon about the missionary call to save individual souls.

In Mark, Jesus’ call is much more than that. Mark’s Gospel begins by proclaiming the Good News—Gospel. Only the emperor could proclaim good news. Immediately, we see much more in what Mark is saying. Jesus is setting out to challenge the existing imperial order. Jesus is initiating a campaign to restore justice, right order and right relationships. In today’s parlance, we could call it the Occupy Jerusalem Movement to restore right order to the people of Israel who are oppressed by Roman and priestly domination. Hence, Jesus’ call of disciples is much more than a plain vanilla challenge to save souls. It is a challenge to restore all that is right and good and beautiful in Israel. It is a challenge to initiate the Kin—dom of God. In St. Bonaventure concept of justice, it is a call to restore people to beauty to that which is distorted. Continue reading →