Word to the Wise
Monday, January 10, 2022 - Monday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 1:1-8 and Mark 1:14-20]"This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel." [Mark]
Every once in awhile, when I was doing fulltime itinerant preaching of parish missions and retreats, the gospel passage for today from the Gospel According to Mark would appear on the Sunday beginning the mission. At the beginning of Mass, I would have the congregation recite out loud after me the three sentences of Jesus' proclamation: This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. I would then congratulate them all on preaching their first Lenten homily! This would get me a chuckle from the people, but that proclamation is at the root of our baptismal commitment!
Given the circumstances of our time, with the COVID pandemic raging and with national and international political tensions threatening on all sides, it may be hard to discern how the "Kingdom of God" could be at hand! Yet, it is! Jesus promised us that he would never "leave us orphaned." [Jn 14:18]. The Holy Spirit that we receive in baptism/confirmation is with us always. We may not always "feel" like this is the case, but without this Spirit of wisdom, life becomes totally overwhelming. And, for some, the loss of confidence in the presence of God in the Holy Spirit leads to despair.
The great French Dominican preacher, Lacordaire, once said, "All I know of tomorrow is that God's providence will rise before the dawn." That is what keeps me getting up in the morning to face the day. The Kingdom of God is always at hand. AMEN