A Message from John Strong,
Director of Evangelization
This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Christmas season is past, the new calendar year has begun, and we are in ordinary time. It can be tempting to think of this time after the holiday season as a time of letdown. The weather isn’t always the nicest at this time of year, to boot. But there is a very valuable lesson to be learned from this time – and I think our liturgical calendar shows us this.
Ordinary time is the longest season of the liturgical calendar. This reminds us that Jesus spent the “ordinary” time – the first thirty years of His life – in private preparation and in the regular comings and goings of life. Outside of the nativity, the gospels speak only of the time when Christ’s ministry became public – which were the last three years of His life. I am confident there was a lot more that Jesus did in those thirty years before His public ministry. It is the same way with us during the ordinary times of our lives.
Most of our lives are lived in the ordinary moments of life. From our work and play to joys and pains, this “ordinary” time is full of all sorts of things. In short, this ordinary time is full of life. So, while we can rightly be sad that the holidays are behind us and the real-world schedule fills us with the day-to-day cares of life, we should choose to embrace those moments of life that are with us and help make us whole. One way we can do that is by living with a holiday spirit. Jesus Christ became incarnate for all of us. That joy should permeate throughout the year – not just at Christmas. Those family get-togethers that happen more often around Christmas time don’t have to just happen around Christmas. Perhaps you could schedule another family get-together soon. Maybe you could try to think less of work while being at home and be more present to your family. Whatever you do, do not let life pass you by. Every moment that God has given us is a gift, and it’s important for us to celebrate that gift.
One of those most important, if not the most important, moments in our lives is the day of our Baptism. The Gospel today speaks of John the Baptist’s witness of the Baptism of Jesus. John said he saw the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus and remain upon Him. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes upon us, too. That is certainly something to celebrate. So, my additional challenge to you this week (on top of continuing to live a joy-filled life) is to figure out the date of your Baptism and then celebrate that date accordingly – it is the most important day of your life, after all.
God bless you and keep you.