Pastor’s Pen
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Augustine Catholic Church
Dear Church Family,
I can remember back to a retreat I made in 1973 that has had an effect on me to this day. I told my friends and parishioners that “I am a new me!” As you know, last Sunday I tried to stir up in your hearts when you had the experience of being a “new me”. Sometimes it comes when you have a new hair style or put on new clothing. Maybe it was when you made a Day of Recollection or was inspired by the Word of God and had this feeling that You are a “new Me!”
I love these words of Isaiah that we often proclaim at Christmas time, “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” We also proclaim that in our Gospel as Jesus is proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven and saying that it is at hand and to be ready for it. The best way to be ready is by repenting and opening yourself up to this new celebration of God’s love for all of us and to the proclaiming of Heaven. It seems that that just with the interaction of these ordinary fishermen that Jesus was able to tell them that he would make them ‘fishers of men’, thus a “new You”, so “come and follow me.” The Scripture said that is exactly what they did, right then, without any turning around. They were aware of the prophesy that the people had seen a great light. Jesus was a light to them and is a light to us. We are called to enjoy the spiritual enrichment of each day in our prayers and on special days of reflection and retreat as we become a ‘New Me’. So, Church Family, during this “wonderful weather”, enjoy turning your life over to Jesus and keep the attitude of what Paul proclaims today, that we do not need divisions or arguments. We need to listen, to pray deeply, and to try to understand as we are trying to make in our churches “All Things New.”
Love, Father Bob
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