Today is the first day of "ordinary time." This doesn't have anything to do with being ordinary; rather, it means this day is "ordered" according to a certain system. Therefore, you don't have to expect this day to be ordinary. The afterglow of Christmas is still with us. This too is the day the Lord has made (see Ps 118:24). "Ordinary time" is also the acceptable time; this day is the day of salvation (see 2 Cor 6:2).
"Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!" (Mk 1:15) Jesus is saying to each of us and to countless others: "Come after Me; I will make you fishers of men" (Mk 1:17). No matter how committed we are to Jesus, we can always grow deeper in our love for Him. Today, may each of us follow Jesus more closely and love Him more deeply than ever before. If we do, this will be no ordinary time. Love Jesus more and more!
| PRAYER: | Father, "I had rather one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere" (Ps 84:11). |
| PROMISE: | "In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, He has spoken to us through His Son, Whom He has made Heir of all things and through Whom He first created the universe." –Heb 1:1-2 |
| PRAISE: | Reading the Bible was the instrument God used to nurture a greater spiritual hunger in Philip, who was then led to study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Vatican II documents, and papal encyclicals. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College