Transitioning Mission!

Monday, January 12, 2026

1 Sam 1:1-8; Mk 1:14-20

Today’s Gospel highlights the smooth transition that God’s mission undergoes.

The very first verse of the text underlines the theme: ‘After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God.’

And the Gospel text is not only about Jesus beginning his public ministry but also about Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus names his disciples to symbolize that they would carry on his ministry after his death and resurrection. 

The quick and smooth transition from John to Jesus and, in the future, to his disciples shows that God’s saving mission continues or is meant to be continued without fail. For this reason, it should work more like a relay race, so that the success of the mission depends on every runner who would receive the baton to pass it on to another faithfully.

Succeeding John and naming disciples, Jesus lets us understand the truth that God’s mission is not a solo sprint where the individual runner completes the race alone. God’s emissaries work as a team. When everyone does his/her part well, it results in the overall success of the mission itself.

Let us pray that we may dedicate ourselves to God’s mission by doing our part well. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar