From the Pastor - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Pastor – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Speak, for your servant is listening.” With those few words Samuel humbles himself and declares his loyalty and obedience to God. There are perhaps for many of us challenges in those words. Initially Samuel responds, “Here I am,” but thinks it was Eli who called him. The idea of being a servant and the willingness to serve are what may be trials for us in terms of how we live.
Samuel does not recognize the voice of the Lord. That, too, may be a problem for us. First, we need to be listening. Are we, or are we merely going through the motions? Responding to God with “Here I am” is a magnificent way to react to God. It is not that God does not know where we are, but saying that can serve as a reminder to us that we are stewards, servants to Him, and it implies we are prepared to hear what He wants us to do.
“Here I am” is said numerous times by those in the Old Testament including Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, and by Ananias in the New Testament. When Jesus says, “Come follow me,” as He does to us, do we hear Him, and even more important do we respond and do we follow?
In order to do that properly we have to be prepared to serve Him and others. Thus, like Samuel, we need to listen, and then we need to serve. At a recent papal audience, Pope Francis said, “Love and charity are service, helping others, serving others. When you forget yourself and think of others, this is love!”
Pastoral Pondering
The Christmas season officially ended this past Monday with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Our task, of course, is to continue the spirit of Christmas in our everyday lives. This is certainly important during these short winter days when the weather outside can be, as the Christmas Song says, “frightful”. One of the important ways that we keep the spirit of Christmas alive here at St. Mark is through Room-in-the-Inn. The neighbors that are served are Christ for us, and it’s a great opportunity to be Christ for others.
Along the same lines, it is during the month of January when we observe the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion. The annual March for Life in Washington, DC will take place this Friday, and St. Mark will be well-represented by parishioners of all ages. For those who cannot travel to Washington, we will once again host the Mirror March for Life here on campus beginning at 12 noon at the fountain. It has also been announced this year that those who participate in the Washington March will be able to obtain a plenary indulgence. Cardinal Wuerl of Washington, DC and Bishop Burbidge of Arlington wrote: “The Christian faithful who are truly penitential and compelled by charity” can gain a plenary indulgence “if they take part in the sacred celebrations (Eucharist & Confession), along with the great assembly of people, throughout the whole course of the annual event that is called ‘March for Life‘”.
Please keep everyone participating in any of these events in your prayers and pray that our nation might realize the horror and tragedy of abortion.