January 22, 2012
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are all watching the cruise ship Costa Concordia, aground, off the island of Giglio. One man assisted others into lifeboats but then went back to his cabin to get his violin -- obviously an instrument precious to him. What are we willing to let go of or to hold onto before we get into the "lifeboat?" Can we imagine the conversation between Zebedee (father of James and John) and Jonah (father of Simon and Andrew) when theirs son came to inform them that they were forsaking family and occupation to follow Jesus from Nazareth? What did they see and hear in Jesus that would occasion an apparent reckless act of following him? We can ask this same question of ourselves. Jesus announced: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the Gospel." "Repent" means more than regret for personal sin. "Repent" means turning around. It entails a reorientation of how we live and conduct our affairs. I can give two examples of persons following Jesus e.g. of getting into the lifeboat. Victoria and Rebecca, two girls in our school, are traveling with the youth group from St. John, Alden to give peaceful public witness to the sanctity of life and dignity of women in Washington, D.C. On Saturday boys and girls in our school and in our religious education programs made their first confession and received the forgiveness of Jesus. They do not yet realize that they are embracing and embarking on the ministry of reconciliation. In following Jesus are called to be peacemakers. Today let us pray for the gift of wisdom to discern what is most precious and life giving; and for the gift of courage to follow Jesus, casting off into the depth of God's love and mercy.
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Epiphany of the Lord
