GOD'S GLORY RETURNING

Monday in the First Week of Ordinary Time
Heb 1:1-6/Mk 1:14-20

In the Old Testament, the glory of God is said to have departed from His People when His voice could no longer be heard. In 1 Sm 4:21-22, we read that when Eli passed away, his daughter-in-law, Phinehas by name, conceived and gave birth to a son whom she named “Ichabod”. In Hebrew, ichavod means “no glory”. This was the name given to the child because the glory of God departed from Israel as the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines. But even before the Ark of the Covenant was taken away by the Philistines, 1 Sm 3:1 says that there was already a problem with the relationship between God and His People: “In those days, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent.” First, God seldom spoke; then, finally, He did not speak at all anymore. Thereupon, it was said that the glory of God departed from the household of Israel. God was absent because the Ark of the Covenant was gone. God’s glory was none because God spoke no longer.

God’s absence seemed to be forever. He was silent for a long time. His glory did not return to Israel for many years. But the Prophet Ezekiel prophesized about the day when the Ark of the Covenant would return to the Temple and the glory of God to His People, Israel (Ez 43:4-9). It did happen: God broke His silence and His glory returned.

When He spoke again, God at first spoke through His prophets. Eventually, He was not contented with merely speaking words. He made His Word speak! Jesus is God’s Word and Glory speaking to, walking with, touching, and loving God’s People. This is what the first reading today immediately drives across to us: “In times past and in different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our time, the last days, He has spoken to us through His Son…”(Heb 1:1-6). Jesus is God speaking to us, relating with us, becoming one like us in all things but sin. In Him, we do not only hear God. We see, touch, love, and relate with God not only through Jesus but in Jesus Himself. He is the Son of God, the Word of God, God Himself. Jesus is God’s glory returning. And never left again (Cf. Jn 1:14).

When Jesus met Simon and his brother Andrew, John and His brother James in the gospel today, He called them to follow Him. They followed Him; they followed God’s Glory, Jesus Himself. They likewise shared in His glory; they lived the life of Christ. But it did not happen overnight, we know. Sharing in God’s Glory, who is Jesus Himself, was not without cost. Repenting from their sins, believing in the Good News, and letting go of their old life – as symbolized by their leaving their nets and father behind – were just the start for the early four disciples. The same is true for us, the later ones: repent; believe; let go.

God speaks. Listen and repent. God is here. Believe that you may see. God’s glory has returned. Let go and Let God.