January 17-18, 2009
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Samuel 3:3-19 First Corinthians 6:13-20 John 1:35-42
What is it that first attracts us to someone? Their looks, their physique, their hair, their laugh, their eyes, their comments? What is it that automatically repels us from someone? Might it be the same qualities…but just the polar opposite of what attracts us? How do we go about establishing ‘first contact’? How does a business conversation turn into a lunch encounter turn into a dinner and a movie? When we decide to get to know someone, or to open ourselves to someone else, why? Why do we select THAT person? Why do we choose to become transparent (or at least translucent) to THAT person? In this weekend’s Scriptures we encounter Jesus ‘staffing his cabinet’ (using inaugural metaphors) and calling his disciples to himself. Already knowing the fullness of the story it is interesting that today we hear of Jesus’ call to Peter, the same fellow who will deny knowing Jesus three times on the morning of the crucifixion. Were these disciples selected in ignorance of their flaws, in spite of their failings…or precisely because of them. Interesting to note that Jesus did not surround himself with perfect, clean-living men. Indeed, these were rough and tumble fishermen, men who had their flaws and were hardly caught up in the finer points of etiquette. Might the rationale to their selection be that these men were authentic individuals? They were not posers, but simple guys earning their livings and getting by day by day? Using images from our own lives…what if the person we MOST admire…a high school jock-hero, a superb athlete, a business genius, a knock’m dead gorgeous star (of either gender)….what if they gave you a call and asked you to join them for dinner? What if, at the end of the dinner they asked if they could get together with you again next week? At what point would you start asking: WHY ME? Would you get scared and allow your fears to shut down the relationship before it could even get off the ground? As we begin Ordinary Time, Jesus begins to share himself with us and asks us if he can spend time with us. Remember, this is the Jesus of 2009, not the Jesus of last year or the Jesus of our childhood, or the Jesus our overly pious aunts worship…this is the Jesus who stands before us and says: ‘Hello….I’m Jesus…can I spend time with you?’ What attracts or repels you with that idea?
Thank you for joining with our Corpus Christi Catholic-Christian Community as we begin a fresh telling of the ‘Jesus Story’. WELCOME Fr. Gerry Horan, thanks for covering the Masses today! Keep you eye out for the parish mailings which contain this year’s PSA material, everything is in the mail…and as long as you are REGISTERED…you should be receiving your very special 10th Anniversary Book. Please peruse, read, admire, get misty eyed, digest and consider all that ‘Handing on the Body of Christ’ shares; please come prepared next weekend for our annual Pastoral Services Appeal Presentation and pledge acceptance opportunity. Your pledge envelope is in the book…but we will of course have extra ones scattered on the seats. As our nation inaugurates a new President and sets off on a fresh political course please keep the new administration in your prayers for their safety and success in guiding our nation. As you open yourselves to getting to know Jesus afresh, remember, you are loved. FKB
