We've just celebrated the Incarnation of the Prince of Peace. To help keep that in mind during Ordinary Time, it is helpful to learn the prayer for peace and joy. Just say this prayer each morning and renew the joy of the Christmas season! (Peace prayer)

These lovely candles are  available for purchase through Wolfe's Baldwin Brass Center Ordering candles from this link  financially supports this site. Thank you!

Use your green candle Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to celebrate Ordinary Time.

• Monday, January 9 use a white candle for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord by St. John the Baptist. We celebrate this as the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.

A solemnity is a day of greatest importance. The celebration starts the evening before the actual solemnity. Easter is our most important solemnity. A feast is the next most important day. It commemorates Mary, the apostles, martyrs and other saints, and the events associated with them. Mass readings often reflect the special feast day. A memorial is a special day, but often an optional celebration. The scripture readings for Mass may or may not be specially selected for the memorial.

God's love is universal. Is ours?

Our faith in God is well-placed. Every prophecy and promise of the Old Testament has come to fulfillment in Christ. Now that it is Epiphany we can stand in awe and inspiration at the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Isaiah is jubilant. Line after line we hear beautiful poetry, with the writer glorifying in the light of the faithful God. In the second reading St. Paul tells us that, not only is God faithful, He is also universal. We celebrate being coheirs of the promise of Jesus on Epiphany, a surprising thought for Paul's community! The Gospel is quite clear that even those from afar could recognize the saving power of the newborn King. The Gospel also starkly points out that there continue to be people, like Herod, who are unwilling to accept the heavenly kingdom.

Most of us regularly deal with people who are not (yet!) willing to live a life of Christ. Unfortunately, most of us are, at some time or another, one of those people. In what ways do we each need to open our hearts a little bit more to accept God's promises? What can we do each and every day to help good overcome evil, especially any evil within? Will we recognize Christ when He comes again, as the shepherds and magi did the first time? Do we recognize Him in every single person we meet? We should. He is there.

Wednesday

1. 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a
   We are reading the books of Samuel during these few weeks of Ordinary Time. Samuel is the leading person in Book 1; the history of David is the main story of Book 2. These books show the history of Israel's kingship and the promise of the royal Messiah from the family of David.
   
   In our reading for this week Samuel is in the midst of a difficult situation. His people are demanding he appoint a king to rule them. Samuel knows they need to forget about an earthly kingdom and focus their energies on God's Kingdom, but he does not immediately deny their request. Instead, he goes off alone to pray. Through prayer God tells Samuel to allow the people what they want. After all, their request just shows they are once again rejecting God.
   
   Samuel, when faced with a difficult decision, decides to go off alone and pray. He makes no rash decisions, no angry threats. Instead he turns to and trusts in God. Even though he disagrees with his people, he can accept their decision with peace of mind. Unfortunately, many times we forget to  turn to God first. It seems we usually turn to God as an afterthought. No wonder peace of mind seems so far away sometimes.
   
2. Mk 2:1-12
   The Gospel of Mark is most likely the first Gospel to have been written.  Its message is clear and concise - Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to save us through service and sacrifice.
   
   We're beginning the fast and furious Gospel of Mark. This week we'll go through the first and the beginning of the second chapters. Our pick of the week is the familiar story of the paralyzed man who was lowered down to Jesus for healing. Jesus irritated the scribes when He forgave the man's sins. Imagine how they felt when he cured the man's paralysis!
   
   We chose this reading because it, again, reminds us of the importance of taking time for self-reflection. Disorders of the body are often the manifestations of disorders of the soul. Consider how you are feeling after the holidays. Are you rested and relaxed? Are you stressed and sick? Is there something that can be changed to bring good health to body, mind, and soul? Prayer is a fantastic beginning.