We can call ourselves brothers and sisters in the Lord — and mean it!

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

It is the first day in ordinary time, having just completed the Christmas Season yesterday with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

So, back to green and back to the extraordinary call of the Gospel in Ordinary Time.

And it is clear that we are called in the ordinary living of our lives to the extraordinary living of the Gospel.

So here we are in Chapter 1 of Mark, who notes that it is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Very quickly, Jesus is announced by the cries of John the Baptist.

Jesus is baptized by John and is led out to the desert for 40 days and nights.

John is arrested and Jesus begins his proclamation: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus begins to call his disciples — and they follow.

And Jesus gets down to business right away!

They entered Capernaum and entered the synagogue; Jesus began to teach.

All were astonished at his teaching because he “taught with authority” and “not like the scribes.”

This was someone, they would discover, that taught about the Kingdom, because he knew the Kingdom of God personally.

And not only teaching.

He began to deliver the miracles of healing and life and cleansing and renewing and casting away the evil so that the good could begin and thrive and lead others to God.

Casting out the unclean spirit and freeing the man who had been possessed, all were amazed.

“What is this? Who is this? How is this?” A new teaching! A new authority!

And the fame spread everywhere.

But it is amazing how even the amazing can wear off in time

And so this letter to the Hebrews reveals that the new Christians began with fervor and a deep commitment to the Lord.

In their amazement they followed with all of their heart. But times could be rough.

Suffering in the struggle to stay faithful is part of the picture. This letter is clearly attempting to help to restore that faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel.

And the letter reminds: “He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.”

Amazing! We can call ourselves brothers and sisters in the Lord — and mean it!

We are consecrated! We are alive!

And we share in this “time of fulfillment” in Christ.

Alleluia!

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Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.