Today’s Gospel provides us with a snapshot of “a day in the life” of Jesus of Nazareth.  We see Jesus teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum, going for a meal with his friends, healing Simon’s mother-in-law, meeting the crowds, healing the sick and casting out the demons.  Very early the next morning, Jesus slips off to a quiet place to pray, to spend some quality time with his Father.  Refreshed and refueled, he moves on with his disciples to the next town, continuing to proclaim the Good News in word and deed. 

What is the common thread running through Jesus’ busy day?  Where there is despair, Jesus brings hope; where there is misery and brokenness, Jesus restores wholeness.  Jesus offers the people hope – hope in him, hope in the Father’s love, hope for salvation and forgiveness and healing and wholeness.  Jesus also promises peace – not just the absence of hostility or difficulties, but shalom: a state of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, of individual and social prosperity, of national peace.   By restoring wholeness – through his ministry of teaching, healing, compassionate outreach, and intimate communion with the one he called Abba – Jesus restores hope to his people.  One “ordinary” day at a time. 

During this pandemic, when many of us go through periods of feeling discouraged or fragmented, we need more than ever to hear Jesus’ invitation to hope and wholeness, to respond to it, and to share it with others, sharing in his mission. As we walk through this “Ordinary Time”, may we open ourselves to encounter Jesus. Then our days will begin to resemble his days, our life his life: for He will be living in us and working through us, sharing His mission of bringing about the Reign of God.  

In spite of this week’s court judgments, we are still in lockdown, but Mass continues to be available by live-stream on Sunday at 11 a.m.  (Link…) 

If you haven’t yet done so, please “like” us and click on the “subscribe” button on our  Parish YouTube page.  Holy Communion will be available immediately after Mass, from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.  Please enter by the main doors, and leave by the West side door.

As well, to launch our Lenten “Journey to Resurrection”, Fr. Raymond will be recording a liturgy of the Word to be broadcast Ash Wednesday morning, February 17.  Fr. Lloyd and Fr. Raymond will be available to impose the blessed ashes, the visible sign of our desire for Lenten renewal, from 10:00-10:30 AM and again from 5:00-5:30 PM on February 17.  Just as when we receive the Eucharist, you will be asked to enter by the front doors and leave by the side.

God bless and have a great week!

Fr. Raymond