Call and Mission of Disciples in Mark 1:16-20 And 6:7-14: Its Relevance to Religious Life
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Date
2006
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
This work intends to explain the understanding of Discipleship in the Gospel of
Mark. The term discipleship or following of Christ seems to have a wider meaning in
the Gospel of Mark. First, it would mean the life of people who accepted the message
of Christ, but remained in the same situation of home and work in which the Gospel
found them, even though they were interiorly transformed by it. Secondly, it would
refer to stricter following of Christ like the disciples who accompanied Jesus in his
missionary travels from Galilee to Jerusalem. In the second meaning, the New
Testament clearly gives the names of the four who, according to the synoptic Gospels,
were the first to be called. They are, Simon, Andrew, James and John (cf Mk. 1:16-20).
Our study would concentrate on this second meaning. In our discussion we shall look at
the call of these four basing ourselves on the Gospel of Mark. We shall also look at the
sending of the Twelve (Mk. 6:7-13).
After a brief study of these passages (Mk 1:16-20 and Mk 6; 7-13), we shall try
to look at what the religious can learn from these passages for the positive response to
their Divine Call. In doing this however, we are not going to give the history of
Religious Life. It is just an invitation to the religious communities to renew themselves
in the spirit of the Gospels. It is fitting because today the religious must find a new
meaning for their presence in the community of Jesus' disciples by penetrating deeply
into the biblical word. This is to enrich the religious in their daily response to the divine
call by making them equipped to be interpreters and livers of the Word of God in the ever-changing world. It is my belief that through the authentic interpretation and living
of the word, the religious will grow in intimate and close relationship with Jesus,
something that gives meaning and life to their call.
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Keywords
Mission, Disciples, Call to Witness, Call and Mission Stories