If you find this site helpful, we suggest you bookmark it. It does not always show up in Google search.   Bookmark this page:
  1. On Windows: Ctrl+D
  2. On Mac: Command+D
  3. On iOS: Tap and hold
  4. On Android: Tap and hold

Posted on

It Starts

Race Start

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


As usual, today’s readings and this moment in the liturgical year are multi-layered, like some sort of amazing millefoglie cake.

Today is the first day of ordinary time. Humdrum, one might think–time to get back to the routine grind. Upside? Maybe the predictability of it, and the thought that we can use the routine for growth and progress.

But our first reading and psalm come off as anything but ordinary.

The first reading speaks of the refulgence of Christ’s glory, of God speaking to us in the last days through His Son, of the Son’s stature as superior to the angels. This reading is positively oozing with glory.

And not surprisingly, the psalm punctuates the first reading: “Let all the angels worship Him.”

This all seems rather extraordinary, until we realize that status quo (“ordinary” if you will) for God is a state of glory. For us, the just-past Christmas season is about glory; the glorious bursting of God into the world. For God, Christmas was a descent, even a sort of self-abasement, for our sakes. Similarly, while the “ordinary” for us implies humdrum and earthly, for God it is nothing short of unending exaltation.

What is exciting for us about this, in our ordinary lives, as clearly comes through in the placement of this first reading at the beginning of Ordinary Time: Even in the midst of our “ordinary,” we can participate in God’s extraordinary “ordinary,” through union with Him–in anticipation of His “ordinary” becoming our “ordinary” as well.

As if this all were not enough, the gospel for today brings us to a completely different place, parallel in its richness: Jesus begins His “ordinary” ministry the day after we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the beginning of that ministry. We have the opportunity of meditating on what it was like for Him to begin His labor in earnest, as we begin the labor of a new year.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus how He combined the arduous reality of His daily ministry with a continuous connection through prayer to the glory of His Father in Heaven. Ask Him how He would like you to combine these two realities in your life.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
  If you find this site helpful, we suggest you bookmark it. It does not always show up in Google search.   Bookmark this page:
  1. On Windows: Ctrl+D
  2. On Mac: Command+D
  3. On iOS: Tap and hold
  4. On Android: Tap and hold

Posted on

Labor Pains

Woman in Wheelchair

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


The whole world, as it were, gives birth to the Savior with labor pains.

We can think of the difficulties not found in today’s readings. Mary had to travel to Bethlehem when very close to her delivery date–in very uncomfortable circumstances. And as her labor was starting, there were zero accommodations available. Only a stable with animals.

And in today’s gospel, we see that the lead-up to the birth of the savior was no cakewalk for Joseph. The woman that he held high on a pedestal was suddenly found to be with child. His image of her was completely confused. And then, he had to trust that the message that came to him from the angel in a dream was true, and not wishful thinking on his part. Even though he was of a wise and discerning spirit, the feelings of insecurity during the course of this process must have been grueling.

And then, he was to dedicate his life as one of service to this woman and this child that wasn’t even his, starting with the arduous and at times seemingly hopeless task of making them comfortable for the child’s birth in Bethlehem.

Only a man of great faith trust that the plan of God ended much more gloriously than it began could sustain joy and hope in the midst of such circumstances.

As we approach Christmas today, perhaps we feel the burden of the day much as Joseph did. We feel the darkness and laboriousness of the sinful world around us, and of our own fallen nature. The human circumstances and sufferings of our life threaten to overwhelm us.

Like Joseph, the differentiator for us will be our level of faith and trust that the plan of God will end much more gloriously than it has begun.

Was He doing something amazing through Joseph? Yes. If we are faithful to Him through the simply, daily gift of our selves and our lives, is He doing something amazing through us? Yes. But like for Joseph, all that He is achieving through us will not be revealed until the prophecy of today’s psalm comes to its final fulfillment: “Justice will flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever.”

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus Christ to give you the same simple, humble faith and trust in the immensity of God’s plan in your life that Joseph displayed as He spent His life in service to the Holy Family. Ask Him to make today, this day, with all its ups and downs, into a great day for His plan in your life.

Follow the Author on Twitter: