Book Reviews and More: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018

Sunday, 14 January 2018

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018 - A Reflection

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018 A Reflection

Ordinary time has begun. This is the first Sunday after the feast of the epiphany. The White vestments from Christmas are put away. We return to green vestments. And the beginning of Lent is just a month away. And after this week, the Sunday Gospel readings move to Mark for the focus of year B.

First Reading Isaiah 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19

Responsorial Psalm 40 1,3,6-9 Response 7,8

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20

Gospel John 1:35-42

In reading and rereading the above readings in preparation for mass this weekend many thoughts kept coming up. From the first reading the fact that God calls to Samuel three times. But also, that both Samuel and Eli take a few times to realize that God is moving her. And then Samuel responds as Eli has told him to: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”. It made me wonder do I hear God’s voice? Do I listen? Am I willing to listen? Am I willing to follow God’s leadings? I know that God has spoken to me and through me many times in my life. But there are other times where it feels like it has been a long time since I have heard from him. I question is that period of silence because I am not listening? Or is it because God is not speaking?

From there we go to the response in the responsorial psalm: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” This theme ties so well into the first reading. Saying that phrase in response 4 times. Again, it calls to mind the question of ‘do I mean it?’. Will I do his will? Will I seek his leading even over my own wishes?

The last section of this reading always convicts me. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were brought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” I know that the grater passage is talking specifically about fornication and sexual sin. But each time I read this passage I also think about the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore questions around am I eating right? Am I getting enough sleep? Am I looking after my body so that God can use it? So that I can be the best version of myself? Those are not easy questions to answer, and as in many areas of life it feels like 3 steps forward and then two steps back. But I must keep moving forward. As I try and teach my children it is not about being perfect, but giving a perfect effort.

And that brings us to todays gospel. We see Andrew and Simon Peter start following Jesus. And that is still our job today we are to be followers of Jesus. And as Jesus said people should know we are his followers based on how we live. So, learn to live well. And may the Lord pour out his spirit upon you and strengthen you to give him all area’s of your life, and to listen to his voice and follow it.