Yes, Mabel, Christmas is over. And we don't get to just casually enter Ordinary Time. As we journey through Ordinary Time we discover who we are, what we are called to and how to come safely to the promises Jesus made for those who accept Him as lord and wish to share in His redemptive work and resurrection.

This first week we consider the call of Samuel and John the Baptist. The first and the last of the prophets were dedicated to God while even in the womb. Samuel sleeps near the Holy of Holies to make sure the sanctuary light which proclaims God's presence is kept burning. John the Baptist looks intently at Jesus proclaiming Him who is “Light from Light” to be the “Lamb of God.” The lamb of God who brought light into the world looks intently at Peter declaring him the “rock”. In these brief words of John the Evangelist, already in the first chapter, we hear who Jesus is and how we are to remain in Him. He says “come and 'see'”. We are to abide in Him, follow Him, share in the “Lamb of God” where “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me.” Then we are to do so while remaining united to Peter, the “rock”. Anything less than that is to commit the sin of king Saul whom Samuel admonished for not doing what the Lord said, as He said. To choose to act outside of unity with Peter is simply to create another ecclesial body along with the tens of thousands which already exist instead of giving witness to the unity for which Jesus prayed.

This month we will begin the great season of Lent when we particularly take time to admit our own sinfulness, our own distancing of self from the will of Christ and the unity of the Church.

As we approach Easter let us also be particularly aware of and pray for those who are coming into the church this Easter: Larry Chapman, Tim, Tammy, Tristen, Madisen Hulsey. Let us walk with them in prayer and fasting.

As we take this journey we all need to ask ourselves: “Am I a minimalist?” Do I try to get by with the least I have to do, at school? At work? In my family relationships? And, most of all in my relationship with God? Do I really think that when I ask myself the question, “What do I have to do?” that it will be sufficient to make it? “Do I have to go to mass?” “On Holydays?” “Is it enough to just fast and abstain on days appointed?” “Can I expect to be Confirmed if I don't do at least what I agreed to?” If those are the questions we are asking, if only subconsciously, then we need to be concerned. Ought we not be asking ourselves, “If Sunday is minimal can I not make it to mass on an extra day? If abstaining from meat (or something similar) on Fridays is minimal, what more can I do without that others might live?” “If I agreed to certain things for Confirmation, can I not show genuine interest by doing more in each of the categories?”

love, fr. dan