THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES AND THE BEGINNING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH.

THE CALL OF THE FIRST OFFICERS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

JESUS CALLS PETER, ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN.

"When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,

he withdrew to Galilee.

He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,

in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet

might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles,

the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,

Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,

casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

He said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

At once they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,

James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.

He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father

and followed him.

He went around all of Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues,

 proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness among the people." (Matthew 4: 12 - 23).

The Call of Simon, Andrew, James and John is significant because it marks the definitive step in laying down the foundation for the Seed of the Kingdom of God on earth, which is the Church of the living God.

Every Kingdom requires Personnel, Laws and Structures.

Jesus is creating a Church that will propagate His Mission and Policy throughout the world to the end of the ages.

Jesus chose simple, uneducated fishermen to be the Officers of this Kingdom. This Kingdom is the Work of God. Its manner of operating will be different from earthly kingdoms.

We gain entrance into this Kingdom through Baptism.

Our Bishops are tte successors of the Apostles.

We grew and take root in the Kingdom through participating in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux:

 "The Name of Jesus is not only light, but also food; it is likewise oil, without which all the food of the soul is dry; it is salt, unseasoned by which, whatever is presented to us is insipid; finally, it is honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, rejoicing in the heart."

 St. Bernardino of Siena:

 "The Name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that Name causes His word to be proclaimed and heard. This Name is the brightness of believers, the strength of the doers, and the help of those who suffer."

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name  of Jesus, click the link below 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1