January 21, 2018 –3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle B, Year II)

Community Word:Jesus Christ is the Light that leads us to the Truth.

Theme:We are led to the truth when we respond to God’s call to be followers of Christ.

Promise: “…the Lord shows sinners the way… and teaches the humble his way.”(Ps 26:8b-9)

Reflection:
If we are given a task to assemble a team to start a movement to change the world, presumably, we would be looking for extra-ordinary, gifted and accomplished people to form the core group. But in the gospel of Mark for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the men whom Jesus called to be His inner circle were not the most educated or influential figures that He could have found. By all appearances, they were ordinary people among the lower echelon of society, but in whom Jesus saw extra-ordinary potentials. After He taught and formed them, the Lord ultimately used them to bring to birth something awesome, still alive today and will live for eternity – God’s Kingdom.

The theme for this week states: We are led to the truth when we respond to God’s call to be followers of Christ. The call of Christ’s first disciples is more than a challenge. They gave up their identity, status and worth and got out of their “comfort zones” with a determined purpose, to follow Jesus and be in relation with Him as their master and teacher. As modern day disciples, we are invited to the highest calling as true followers of Christ in faith. First and foremost, we are called to be with the Lord, to spend time and develop spiritual intimacy with Him, be molded by His teachings and be recipients of His gifts as vessels of spiritual power. Then, with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we are commissioned “to witness in our lives the beauty and truth of His life and teachings,”(CCC 2470). We ought to become effective instruments for the proclamation of the Good News in today’s world, not just by words, but mostly by our actions.

Not fully aware of the Lord’s plan, we have no idea that He had placed us where we should be. He planted us in our respective families, work places, communities or churches to experience His presence in our life. Often, we do not notice that God is challenging us to use and develop the talents and gifts that He has given us. Sadly though, we limit our calling to a particular job description insisting to be just a hardworking parents, effective office workers, or obedient ministry members and being contented on following instructions and fulfilling a given task. We wait for other people to point to us our capabilities because we are hesitant to fully explore the extent of our charisms.

People do not make us preachers or teachers, leaders or shepherds, counselors or healers; only God can if we only heed His call and allow Him to work in us and through us. Take for example St. Paul, a mere tent maker who later on was designated to work on a much bigger tent, God’s Church. Or Peter, an ordinary fisherman who became a “fisher of men” and the first vicar of Christ. The Lord can increase our talents to a level we cannot comprehend to accomplish greater tasks.

Our giftedness is unique and exclusive to each one, but complimenting those of others to support building God’s Kingdom. We may ignore them and limit our effectiveness, abuse them and destroy our credibility. Though we make bad choices and at time offend God, dead ends or detours do not change our calling.The truth is, God never changes His mind when He give gifts or call someone. We just have to accept our failures with humility and Lord will restore usbecause this is what He promises to those who are faithful – “the Lord shows sinners the way… and teaches the humble his way,” (Ps 26:8b-9).

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, make us steadfast in following Your ways and truth. Give us the grace to resist temptations and help us to live uprightly. Enable us to exercise our God-given gifts to pursue our calling, to be with Youalways and to do Your will at all times. When we fail and fall, help us make a genuine repentance so that we will remain fit for Your Kingdom. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.What gifts or talents does the Lord want you to develop and use when He called you to serve in your church orcommunity?

2.How much do you value your earthly priorities and attachments? Are you prepared to give them up and focus more on your spiritual well-being?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
January 21, 2018 (Sun) – Jon 3:1-5, 10/Ps 25:4-9/1Cor 7:29-31/Mk1:14-20
January 22, 2018 (Mon) – 2Sm 5:1-7,10/Ps 89:20-22,25,26/Mk 3:22-30
January 23, 2018 (Tue) – 2Sm 6:12-15,17-19/Ps 24:7-10/Mk 3:31-35
January 24, 2018 (Wed) – 2Sm 7:4-17/Ps 89:4,5,27-30/Mk 4:1-20
January 25, 2018 (Thu) – Acts 22:3-16/Ps 117:1,2/Mk 16:15-18
January 26, 2018 (Fri) – 2Tm 1:1-8/Ps 96:1-3,7,8,10/Mk 4:26-34
January 27, 2018 (Sat) – 2Sm 12:1-7,10-17/Ps 51:12-17/Mk 4:35-41

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”