Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day 

Today, we mark our entry into Ordinary Time. Gone are the Christmas decorations and white vestments, replaced now by the liturgical color of green.  And we begin our journey through the Gospel of Mark.  Where else does it make sense to begin but with a call?  The Gospel today tells of the first disciples.  John the Baptist introduces two of his followers to Jesus.  One of those followers, Andrew, introduces his brother Simon to Jesus.  As the gospel tells us, Simon becomes Simon Peter, the rock on which the church is built.

In both of these calls, there is a pattern of an introduction, a following, and a building of a relationship with Jesus.  There is recognition of Jesus’ identity as “the Lamb of God’ (the sacrificial offering of himself), “Rabbi” (the Teacher) and “Messiah” (Christ, the Anointed).  And, there is going out and inviting others to join in, restarting the cycle.  It truly is spreading the good news. 

This call to follow Jesus and invite others to join in is not something just for those first followers, but rather it is for us each and every day as well.  Who is it in our ministry, in our work, that is inviting us to follow Jesus?  Who is it that we are calling to that very same invitation?  We should take time and reflect on the relationship that we have with Jesus.  How do we see Him?  Is he one of the titles we see in this Gospel passage, or is there another title that speaks to us?  As disciples in spreading the good news, how do we portray Jesus to others?

This season of Ordinary Time is really anything but ordinary.  It is a chance for each of us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus. It is also a chance to discern how we go about inviting others into his great love, that unconditional love he shows for each one of us and which we are called to offer to our brothers and sisters in God’s family.

Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl is the Director of the Social Action Office – Wayne, Ashland and Medina Counties for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.  He is Permanent Deacon for the Cleveland Diocese, assigned to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina, Ohio.