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For The Bulletin Of garden of the resurrection morning, but by 17 January 2021 then the “What” has become “Whom” in the intimate encounter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The two disciples ask Jesus, the Teacher (Rabbi), where he is staying, and he responds by inviting them to “Come, and you will see.” Their question is about a place; that experience is about abiding for the rest of the day in a relationship with a person, about the beginning of a new communion between the people and this Lamb of God. The “where” is not as important as the “with whom.” The pattern THE SECOND SUNDAY IN WINTER’S of discipleship is established: through ORDINARY TIME witness (of the Baptist), others follow and experience Jesus’ truth for themselves. From Father Robert They in turn bring others to Jesus. One of As we begin our journey through Winter’s the first two who followed Jesus remains Ordinary Time, the gospel begins with anonymous, perhaps as a Johannine looking and gazing and responding to the invitation to future readers to see a challenge call to discipleship. John the Baptist stands to themselves in the following, seeking with two of his disciples, ready to decrease pattern of discipleship. The other is later in personal significance so that Jesus may named as Andrew, who announces to his increase. After his testimony there will be brother, Simon Peter, that he has found the no hanging onto or hankering for his former Messiah. Like the first disciples, we all see disciples. John watches Jesus pass by the something different in this same Jesus, and eyes of John’s heart penetrate to the reality Jesus recognizes the truth in us, just as in of this man, and he points him out to his this first chapter of the fourth gospel, Jesus’ disciples as the Lamb of God. The Jewish insight into Simon’s role in the community religious experience of the lamb was as the of the disciples suggests his renaming as sacrificial offering that overcame the Cephas (in Aramaic, kepha; in Greek, petra; alienation of sin and created unity between in English, rock). the people and God. In whatever way the Baptist’s disciples understood his words, This gospel proclaims that all discipleship is they were spoken with an urgency that made an active and involving relationship with them leave John and follow Jesus. Jesus Jesus: a following, seeking, staying, himself turns and sees them. The word the finding, and dialoguing with him. We hear evangelist uses for “saw” (theasthai) has the how each decision to follow Jesus is a sense of gazing contemplatively and response to a statement about Jesus’ identity engagingly at these two followers. Jesus as Lamb of God, Rabbi Messiah, by people then asks them his first question in the whose ears and hearts are open to the Word fourth gospel: “What are you looking for?” of God, who hear his invitation through the It is a question that will persist throughout words of friend or stranger, through events this gospel, from this first chapter to the of joy or sorrow, or who discern a moment 1 of religious significance in the every day. The psalm response for today echoes As the nineteenth-century English poet Samuel’s answer to the voice calling to him Matthew Arnold wrote in his haunting poem in the night, “Here I am.” How do you “The Buried Life”: practice being present to God and to those who share your life? But often, in the world’s most crowded streets, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Do you But often in the din of strife, not know that your body is a temple of the There rises an unspeakable desire Holy Spirit within you?” How would you After the knowledge of our buried life; answer Paul’s question? A thirst to spend our fire and restless force In tracking out our true, original course, In the gospel Jesus is identified as the Lamb A longing to enquire of God, as Teacher, and as Messiah. What Into the mystery of this heart which beats do these titles tell you about Jesus’ identity? So wild, so deep in us – to know Whence our lives come and whence they go. John’s proclamation about Jesus is filled with theological significance. In naming Jesus the “Lamb of God,” he emphasizes not only that Jesus is consecrated and set apart for a holy purpose, but also that Jesus’ life will end in sacrifice to save others, calling to mind the blood of the lambs spread above the doorways of the Hebrew people in the land of Egypt, so the angel of death might About Liturgy: Liturgical Evanglization pass over them. Hearing John’s words, two In today’s Old Testament and gospel of his own disciples are intrigued enough to readings, God’s calls reach the ears, and approach Jesus and then follow him to indeed the very souls, of people not where he is staying. These first steps are the expecting it. Further, we might not expect beginning of a path that will eventually lead God’s call to be given to ones such as these: them to the agony of the cross and then, an eleven-year-old, Samuel, apparently finally, to the joy of the empty tomb. working as a sort of sacristan in the temple, and two men who are already disciples of Do you remember this gospel from three another: John the Baptist. years ago? Have you allowed yourself to hear and respond to Jesus’ invitation to Our liturgical work includes elements of “Come and see?” Do you see yourself in the both evangelization and catechesis. That is, gospel? we are charged with bringing people to the liturgies themselves and sharing the Good In the first reading, Samuel hears God’s News, as well as forming and educating voice calling to him as he sleeps. How do them on matters of faith. More simply, we you experience the voice of God calling to are charged with calling and fashioning new you? disciples. Over these few weeks of Winter’s Ordinary Time, we will dig deeper into these facets of our ministries. 2 First, evangelization. How do we preach the Good News to those who most need to hear it? Is that message of hope and salvation brought outside the church doors? Are those who have fallen away from the faith invited to return? Many parishes have Evangelization Committees whose ministry is just that: reaching out to those who, for instance, are registered in the parish but who have not been seen in the pews recently; spending time at public events, just being a faith-filled presence, ready for conversations about faith, community, and Jesus; welcoming those who, by these efforts or others, have found their way to the church The Annual Pastoral and Financial Report building, curious about becoming “church” Each year, on the last Sunday of January, the themselves. Pastor is required to give an Annual Pastoral and Financial Report. I have followed that Our Jewish sisters and brothers name this requirement since coming to St. Ignatius of welcoming the stranger “Hachnasat Antioch 16 years ago. The report is much Orchim.” Abraham is held as the prime more than facts and figures – it helps us to example of such hospitality, but his remember our journey in faith, in reception of wayfarers in Genesis 18. Some discipleship, in stewardship and the even note that his standing at the entrance of memorable moments that bound us together his tent is perhaps proactive, not waiting for as a family in faith. Our worship, our others to come to him, but eagerly seeking celebration of the Sacraments, our social out those who need welcome. It’s worth events, our ministries and outreaches, our noting that Scripture tells us that because of hopes and dreams as well as an accounting Abraham’s “Hachnasat Orchim,” he and of our Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Sarah were blessed with future generations Treasure form the heart of the report. The (beginning with Isaac; father of Jacob, the report also presents the Proposed Budget for patriarch of Israel), even though they were the new year. The Annual Pastoral and both advanced in age and had no reason to Financial Report for 2020 will be printed in expect any new family members. Might our hard copy as well as being available on line church also be blessed by eagerly seeking on our website. Copies will be available for out the lost and finding new ways to all those who come for the Walk-Up evangelize? Communion on Sunday, January 31st. 3 "Thanks be to God that this has burst out Pope Francis and there was a chance to see it well, because now you can try and heal it," the 'astonished' by pope says, according to a clip of the interview posted to the channel's website Jan. 9. violent attack on US Francis had not previously commented Capitol publicly on the attack on the Capitol, in 9 January 2021 which armed protestors stormed both houses by Joshua J. McElwee of Congress on the day it was certifying the Electoral College votes and formally declaring Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election. The rioters attacked the Capitol after President Donald Trump encouraged a crowd near the White House earlier in the day to march toward the building and "show strength." The pope joins a wide range of world leaders expressing concern about the event. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Angelus example, said images of the event left her from the library of the Apostolic Palace at the feeling "angry and sad," and Australian Vatican Jan.