Homily: First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

First Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Mk. 1:29-39) “Run Toward God”

There are things that add energy and there are things that take energy away. This is part of being human. There are people who take energy from us and there are people who renew us. Usually, when we are giving of ourselves that takes energy away from us. When we are receiving from others we are recharged.

Jesus experienced this in his life. We hear about him starting his ministry in the Gospel of Mark. He had led a “hidden” life for 20 years. We get a sense that he blended in with all the other working men of Palestine. But then he began his ministry. He was very ambitious. He went around the countryside on a preaching and healing mission.

This had to be draining. How did Jesus renew himself? Did he do that with other people? Perhaps he did. We know that he has friends like Martha, Mary and Lazarus who he stayed with at times.

But the main way that he renewed himself was through his prayer. He had to withdraw at times to commune with the Father. If he had not done this he could not have gone on.

Prayer has been described as an appeal to the soul of God. Not to appeal to God is incredibly short sighted. Jesus said once that all of us need to go to that inner room and spend time there.

Jesus was divine so he needed to be in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. When he was able to do that, he found energy to continue with his ministry.

If Jesus had to do that, how can we say that we don’t. Prayer is not just running away from the world. But prayer is running toward God. If we are people of prayer, we know that it is easy to avoid a conversation with God. We might be afraid of intimacy with God because we are sinful. We might also be reluctant because we might wonder what God might ask us to do.

If we do enter a conversation with God, we hardly ever regret it. We usually find a deep consolation and renewal. We don’t have to travel many miles away. We need only enter our inner room.

Reflection Questions:

1.    What is it that recharges our batteries? What gives me energy?

2.   Who reassured Jesus? Could I learn from him?

 Dear Parishioners,

           We had a lot of meetings that were canceled the last few days. School was canceled as well. This is never my favorite thing to do. I always figure that I will have to come back and do the tasks that I was slated to do later. Postponing life is possible. Canceling life isn’t.

          Many times, people will ask the question as to whether Mass will be canceled because of the weather. I always remind them that I just must walk next door to have Mass. If God and I am the only persons there its still Mass. But just because I am there does not mean that others must risk injury to come. I would encourage people to use common sense. If you risk falling or getting in a car accident stay home and stay safe. I can’t guarantee that we will pick up every snowflake on the parking lot or salt every patch of ice.

          Let’s pray for all those who suffer because of the weather.

          Fr. Mark