CONTRIBUTED BY RAY REITZEL C.R. Fr. Ray was born in Waterloo and is #9 in a family of 9 boys and 3 girls. One brother (Harry) is a C.R. priest, and two sisters are Notre Dame Sisters. He taught for 31 years at St. Jerome’s H.S. in Kitchener, and at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall in North Bay. After that, he served in 4 parishes for 17 years. He is now semi-retired, helps out in different parishes, and dwells at Resurrection Manor, the CR retirement home in Waterloo.

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME January 26, 2020

GATHERING TIME (10-15 minutes)

Introduction to the Word: In the Gospel today, starts his mission to establish his Kingdom (Realm) on earth. He will only be on earth for three years, before He will be sacrificed on the cross on Good Friday. So, His first order of business is to ‘choose,’ ‘call’ twelve men to carry out His mission to the “ends of the earth.” They readily respond to His call; these men are called the twelve Apostles.

A few weeks ago, in Celebrating the Word, I shared the growth of my faith while living in a family of 8 brothers and 3 sisters. In Grade 8, I thought of my call to become a priest, but not much thought after that.

In my day, in the 1950s, the usual time for entering the priesthood, or Religious life, was either after grade 12 or grade 13. My two older sisters became School Sisters of Notre Dame. An uncle on both the Reitzel and Ruetz sides became Resurrectionist priests, but none of my older brothers became a priest. So, I took up the challenge and entered the Novitiate for the Congregation of the Resurrection.

In those days, it was usual for 4, 5, or 6 boys to enter the seminary, and the same for the girls in high school who answered the call to join the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Also, in those years the seminaries were full. When I studied at the Resurrectionist house at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, we had to make room for more candidates. So, they sent my class of ten students to our Resurrectionist seminary, in St. Louis Missouri, as Resurrection College was being built in Waterloo. This was done for a few years. And do you know why the seminaries were full then? One good reason that I surmise is that none of us had a TV set at home. After 10 years, when everybody had a TV set, seminaries were being closed up. I wonder how Jesus would have fared with the calling of the Apostles if they had TV sets and cell phones?

1 The Table of the Word Last week was designated as a time of Prayer for Christian Unity. Jesus left us with a prayer that “they all may be one,” yet the Christian world has been divided into Protestants and Catholics for 500 years. Even in today’s Second Reading, we see divisions: ” I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose… For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.” Today, ministers and priests share social times and even exchange pulpits occasionally; the hierarchies issue joint statements on public issues of mutual concern; church leaders travel and dialogue; theologians work away at finding points of agreement, and removing misunderstandings. Progress is being made. So, while we accompany these efforts with our prayers, let us also pray for the graces we need for unity in our families and communities. May we be communicators, bridge builders, and healers of relationships.

Lord Jesus, you announce the presence of the Kingdom of God, Lord, have mercy. Christ Jesus, you are calling all your disciples daily to follow you, Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you love us and invite us by your Word and Spirit, Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray (together): Loving God, you have promised to be with us whenever we gather in your name. Persistent God, you continue to issue your invitation to us, to see you, hear you, and respond to your invitation to new life, through the Word and Spirit of your own Son. Awaken our minds and hearts to the sound of your call, and give us courage, always to follow you. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION TIME (45 minutes)

FIRST READING (Isaiah 9:1–4) There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time the Lord brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the , of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness–on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nations, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you, as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

2 SECOND READING (1 Corinthians 1:10–13, 17–18) I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being Saved, it is the power of God. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL (Matthew 4:12–23) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. When Jesus heard that had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan River, Galilee of the Gentiles–the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the , he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of , and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

(You are invited to pause for a few moments of silence, then identify a word or phrase or thought that comes to you.)

COMMENTARY: The people of Judah have become despondent as they suffer oppression after their defeat by Assyria. They, along with King Ahaz, reject the Word of God, and in chapter 8 of Isaiah, we read that the Lord hides His face from the house of Jacob. In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1–4), the prophetic text of Isaiah serves not only to offer hope and freedom to his people from their burdens and oppression, but it also speaks to us to face our challenges. The prophet’s voice beckons to be heard today with the same passion as long

3 ago. Isaiah’s words of invitation are today’s words, to ‘see a great light,’ the light of Christ, bringing hope, and renewal of our spirit.

In the 2nd reading , which we already discussed above in “the Table of the Word,” Paul confronts the disunity in the Corinthian community. Rivalries and individual opinions are detracting from the Gospel, and Paul stresses that the focus is not to be on himself or other ‘heroes,’ but on the message of the Cross. The suffering, dying and resurrection of Christ is the saving power of God. The Paschal Mystery is the revelation of God’s love.

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist has been arrested and was beheaded soon afterward. This ended John’s mission. Now Jesus begins His mission. Jesus moves from His home and carpenter shop in Nazareth, and sets up His ‘head office’ in Capernaum where he will begin his active ministry in the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ words in the Gospel today, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” are His first public words in Matthew’s Gospel. His first order of business is to call—that is, to choose—His first disciples, the 12 Apostles. Surprisingly, they readily answer the call, and immediately follow Him. I would think that they were already avid disciples of St. John the Baptist, who prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah. They were anxious and ready to meet “the Messiah”. Jesus knew He would soon depart, so He will soon give the authority to them, to continue His Mission, and “proclaim it the ends of the earth.” Jesus fulfils the prophecy: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shone.” Jesus would later refer to Himself as the ; and, in commissioning His apostles, He would tell them that they, now, were to be a light to the world. God’s love for us is evident in having Jesus choose disciples to share and continue His ministry. We also are called to live in faith, and trust, and love, breaking down the barriers of ignorance, suspicion, hatred and fear that often threaten our relationships with each other. On the human level, the communion we are called to—our vocation to love, as the Father loves—is impossible; yet by the strength of the Word, the preaching of the Cross, and the effectiveness of the sacraments, encourage us. The dynamic force that binds us together is the grace of God. One might explain that this call to love, works itself out in the everyday things of family life, in the various contacts that we make with people, in the services that we give or receive. Through all of these we are Christ in our world; we continue to show forth His ministry and, in our way, we share in the Church, as sacrament of salvation, and light of the nations.

I find it interesting the kinds of people Jesus chose to be apostles: waffling fishermen, unpopular tax collectors, wimpy brothers who had their mother beg their case to Jesus. They were all flawed in some way, but Jesus called them for the persons He knew they would grow into and become. And we know from their life stories that there was one primary reason for the success of Jesus’ followers: they were convinced from the outset that Jesus was the Messiah, bringing us the love and presence of God the Father.

4 Mary is our Role Model par excellence when it comes to being open to the Spirit, and allowing the Spirit to do all that the Spirit was sent to do. Such is the mysterious way of the Spirit, to reach people where they were. And God touches us where we are in the ordinary events of our daily life.

It is an on-going process of surrender to the Spirit, who helps us transcend ourselves. St Thérèse of Lisieux was so transformed that she could write… “I feel the vocation of the Warrior, the Priest, the Apostle, the Doctor, the Martyr. I feel the need and the desire of carrying out the most heroic of deeds for You, O Jesus…” (from her autobiography, The Story of a Soul)

(Allow about 5 – 10 minutes for the participants to react to the Commentary to identify a newly discovered insight or an idea.)

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION:

1. (Matthew) “He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” The disciples were able to hear and follow the Spirit. To be attentive presumes a relationship with Jesus, and as prayer is the basis to enrich this, it is important to establish space and a place for this time-out. Prayer has many forms—formal prayers, spontaneous ones, and just being in God’s presence. Henri Nouwen says of prayer: “it’s a way of being empty and useless in the presence of God … Wasting time for God is an act of ministry…” (Nouwen, The Living Reminder) a) How would you reconcile a ‘prayer time-out’ with the need to responsibly fulfill your role as family member, employee, or member of society, wanting to ‘give back’? b) What insights or discoveries in regards to your Christian faith have you come to better appreciate in recent years?

2. “Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of people” “I understood that it was love alone that made the Church’s members act … I understood that love comprised all vocations … O Jesus, my love … My vocation, at last I have found it…my vocation is love!” (St. Thérèse, ibid.)

3. a) Looking back over your week (or ahead to the coming week), was there (or will there be) an invitation or challenge for you to be Jesus’ disciple? b) St. Paul reminds us of his faith: “When weak, it is then that I am strong”. Richard Rohr promises “… that God rushes to fill any emptiness, longing, or desire that we offer…” (On the Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men). We are all called to a vocation. With what gift has the Spirit blessed you? What gifts do you see in the members of your faith group? c) We all experience resistance to being ‘a light to the world’ in a given situation. “…Leave…go to the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Discipleship sometimes requires a leap of faith. Is the Light of the Word stretching you, and how so?

5 CARING/PRAYING TIME 1. Word for the Week: From today’s psalm, Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation!”

2. Suggestion for the Week: Prayerfulness does not always remove the pain in our lives but it may open up new vistas that lead to a “softening of our soul.” When this occurs, amazing things can happen in our own lives, as well as those of our families, friends, and even casual acquaintances. (R. J. Wicks, Prayerfulness)

3. Intercessions: (Response: Lord, hear our prayer) Leader: The Lord Jesus Christ graces us with His light, and invites us to be of one mind and heart for the whole human family. For all religions, divided and often ignorant of each other; may we work to move beyond the barriers, misunderstandings and quarrels of the past, we pray… You, Lord, have given each of us gifts and talents and you call us to be a light for our world; help us to rise above all that undermines our calling, we pray… You invite us each day to recognize our union with you; strengthen us to be unifiers, and mirror your compassion to one another, we pray… You knew rejection and derision as you ministered; give us the desire to serve all people, and the grace to be at peace when we cannot please everyone, we pray… Spirit of God, love is your gift to us, and the gift you desire from us; receive our desire and poor efforts to offer our lives to you today, we pray… For vocations, those whom the Lord calls to be fishers of people; may they respond as the first disciples did, eagerly and generously, we pray… For our lectors and homilists: may their words open our hearts to the power of God, in the message of the cross, we pray… For all who belonged to Christ in life and have gone before us in death; may the light of Christ scatter the darkness for them, and for all who mourn their passing, we pray… How can we help you in prayer this week? Let us pray (together): O God, You have established your church, on the faith of the Apostles, and on the example of their response, immediate and complete. Let your word dawn in splendour upon our community to dispel the shadows of division, and the gloom of discord. United in the bond of your love, may we become a radiant light of salvation and hope, for all who journey from darkness toward the light of your new day. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever. Amen. With hands and hearts united in gratitude for God’s favours on us today, we pray that all those in our influence, may be moved to be open to your Word and your Spirit, and we pray united as one, OUR FATHER… Celebrating the Word, Resurrection Ministries of the Congregation of the Resurrection Ontario-Kentucky Province (including the former Resurrection Centre), 265 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G7. (Celebrating the Word was founded by Father Frank Ruetz, C.R., now deceased). The Scripture version used in this commentary is the New Revised Standard Version (copyrighted by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA). For information or subscriptions: Email: [email protected] website: www.resurrectionists.ca 6