Now that the Christmas season is ended, we enter into a few weeks of Ordinary time before Lent, beginning early this year, on Wednesday, February 18.
Ordinary Time unpacks the teaching, preaching, and miraculous workings of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
On this first day of Ordinary Time, we hear the first words uttered by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Jesus uttered those words at the beginning of his earthly ministry to announce that God was breaking into history in a decisive way to fulfill his promises, to usher in the new era of the kingdom. Jesus was announcing a turning point—a turning point in history for fallen man to turn back towards God in order to live anew in God’s grace.
These words are so fitting as we begin Ordinary Time. For, this is the time of the year in which Christians are to cooperate with the grace of God to transform our ordinary lives.
God is with us after the high holy days when the tree is taken down, the nativity is put away. God’s grace is to animate the ordinary moments of life, our ordinary relationships and ordinary habits.
God’s grace is to animate us when we go grocery shopping, when we are folding socks and washing dishes and shoveling snow. His peace is meant to mark our ordinary conversations with the people we see every day. His wisdom is meant to guide the governance of our families and our civic life. God’s grace is meant to transform the ordinary.
Notice that in this very same Gospel passage that the Lord announces to ordinary fishermen, that they were going to be transformed as well. Following him brings transformation. Christians no longer live simply for ourselves, for catching fish to put food on our table and feed our families. Jesus brings an added dimension to life—we are now meant to be about God’s purposes—transformed into His instruments.
Ordinary fishermen and transformed into fishers of men. Hearing this at the beginning of ordinary time is a reminder that we too are to be about God’s work in catching souls. Following Jesus means being open to being used as his instruments—as fishing poles and bait—to catch souls for Him—through our prayers, in our speech, in our witness.
God’s grace is to mark our ordinary behaviors and relationships, but those activities are now oriented to something new—they have a purpose—to lead souls to God. Always in the background in our minds—in each conversation, in each activity—how can I help this soul to Jesus—how can I glorify God in this activity.
May God’s grace mark the ordinary, but also keep us mindful of our new task of leading souls to Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.
For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.
For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them.
For those preparing for baptism and to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, that this time of instruction and prayer may be a time of fulfillment of God’s promises in their lives.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For our beloved dead, and for the poor souls in purgatory.
For X for whom this mass is offered, and the prayers we voice now in our hearts.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.
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