CHRISTMAS SEASON ENDS, January 6, 2025
The Christmas season that began on Christmas Eve, comes to an end liturgically this weekend with the liturgy of the SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME and the observance of the feast of the EPIPHANY. The cultural/social observance came to an end with the beginnings of the New Year. The twelve days of Christmas end with the feast of the Epiphany.
The sacred readings for the feast of the Epiphany focus on themes that belong in the liturgical season of Christmas: the prophetic words of Isaiah (60: 1-6) encourage the people to find hope in the expected promise of the Messiah; the letter to the Ephesians (3: 2-6) proclaims that the good news of God’s love is extended to non-Jews for the first time. The visit of the Magi (Mt. 2: 1-12) is viewed as a sign that those who were non-Jewish came to visit the newly born savior.
The sacred readings for this Sunday, the second Sunday in ordinary time, in effect gives us a glimpse of the work of Jesus in action. We read of Jesus calling four of his disciple (John 1: 35-40) to be members of his group/community and setting Peter as the leader, and we hear from Paul (1 Corinthians 6: 13-20) that those chosen as his followers constitute the mystical body of Christ and are to be the core group to help with his work and to continue it after his time.
In my reflection on the sacred readings of this weekend and being conscious of my awareness and need for God, I offer you, the reader, a few thoughts:
We the members of the Church are the Body of Christ called to be ’his witnesses’ in our world.
We are blessed with this new year to discover our opportunities of strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our relationship with our God is nurtured by our ongoing conversation with him and our service to those we can serve
I try to be conscious of the needy/hurting people in our world who need our care and assistance in every way we can offer it.
[Presented by Father David O’Connor, who is experiencing a snow-covered part of Ireland these days. EMAIL: doconnor.natchez@gmail.com]
Father David O'Connor 10 Morgantown Road Natchez, MS 39120-2788
