Finding Purpose in the Midst of Life’s Rush

At daily Mass in these first few days of Ordinary Time, we’ve been listening to the opening chapter of the Gospel of Mark—the shortest of the Gospels. It invites us into an intense, fast-paced narrative that can be read in one sitting. I encourage you to take the time to do so because Mark’s story of Jesus is foundational, vividly recounting his life with an urgency that pulses like a heartbeat.

Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee with this proclamation: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). From the outset, there’s a relentless drive as Jesus moves from one action to the next—preaching, healing, casting out demons—all with the sense that time is of the essence. The Greek phrase ευθύς, meaning “immediately” (or “straightaway,” “at once”), appears 39 times in Mark’s Gospel, underscoring the immediacy of Jesus’ mission. No delay, no hesitation—immediately, Jesus is about God’s work.

In today’s passage, Mark 1:29–39, we see this urgency in action. In just ten verses, Jesus performs 16 distinct actions, such as curing, casting out demons, grasping Simon’s mother-in-law’s hand, helping her up, preaching, and praying. He rises before dawn to go off by himself to pray, but he’s quickly called back by his disciples because “everyone is looking for [him].” His response is immediate: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”

This sense of urgency reminds me of a passage from a book entitled The Purpose Driven Life by Evangelical Christian writer and pastor Rick Warren. He writes:

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Words alone are worthless. Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

Jesus embodies this truth. He knows his purpose. He is driven by love. And love shows itself in action, whether that action is directed to God the Father or to the person immediately in front of him in need of help, healing, or encouragement.

As we run through our hectic days, let’s reflect on how we invest our time. May we, like Jesus, understand the purpose for which we have come, and may our love for God and others be evident in our actions. Let us not delay in living out our faith, but immediately and wholeheartedly respond to the call to love, serve, and hit the ground running.