January 22-23, 2011
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 8:23-9:3 First Corinthians 1:10-17 Matthew 4:12-23
You can discern a slow news-cycle when the papers/media are all-abuzz about this or that potential Presidential candidate heading to Iowa…or one of the early Primary states. That being said, it is not unusual for interested ‘potential candidates’ to travel from city to city to take the ‘pulse’ of what people are thinking, sort of sending up a trial balloon to see if their candidacy will gather much steam. In the process, assorted folks start to take an interest in the candidate and choose to sign-on to help with various ‘skills.’ In something of a similar manner, in these early ‘Ordinary Days’ we hear within the Gospel of Matthew of Jesus ‘going about all of Galilee’ and beginning to attract ‘disciples’ to himself.
What do you think attracted the disciples to Jesus? These were hard men, fishermen, rough and tumble guys who were not well educated nor easily impressed. Yet, they found Jesus an intriguing persona, someone to whom they would eventually commit their lives. Indeed, within a few years Jesus would be able to ask Peter ‘do you love me’….and have Peter respond ‘YES Lord, you know that I love you!’ Wow…were the disciples the first metro-sexual men in touch with their feminine sides….or did they encounter something deeply powerful and personal in the presence of Jesus?
Jumping a couple of thousand years, who have been the people to whom we have been powerfully attracted over the years? A political figure? A religious personage or powerful social advocate? Who are the contemporary voices that tug at our heart, soul or mind? Why? Why do these people move us so deeply? In the opposite manner, are their individuals who repel us, who cause us to stop our ears and turn off the radio or TV if they appear? Why? Aside from an obviously powerful personal presence, might Jesus have spoken an idea or concept that so intrigued the first disciples that they were like moths drawn to the light?
What might be some of the ideas/concepts that move you deeply? Who are the voices that raise these ideas to lofty heights? What are the contrary ideas/concepts that invariably have equally abundant supporters and how do we respond to their contrarian views? Gosh, the New Year is only a few weeks old and already we have some intriguing questions….and possibly troubling ones as well.
Thank you for coming and sharing worship and hospitality with our Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Community. It is interesting that we invariably have a scattering of people participating with us that somehow have gotten confused by our name: Corpus Christi Catholic-Christian Community, and think that we are anything other than a Roman Catholic parish within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. In the fullness of our name we simply advertise that we go about living our Christianity as Roman Catholics, like Lutherans living their Christianity as Lutherans, or Episcopalians as members of the Episcopal Church, etc.
Next weekend is our Pastoral Services Appeal Pledge Weekend…please make sure you have read, reviewed, considered and prayed on the material you have received (please)….the PSA is our primary manner of paying down our loan so as to eventually be able to complete our Corpus Christi Campus with the construction of our permanent Church. The Bulletin is available as you exit, lots of other events happening within Corpus Christi Catholic-Christian Community…and you wouldn’t want to miss out. As these winter weeks chill your skin, may you be warmed with the remembrance that you are loved. FKB
