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Back Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday, January 23, 2021
From the Desk of Fr. Ron…….
Take a moment to recall with me your experience of higher education. When we were in college or graduate school, research papers were a given. Our academic life was filled with deadlines, research, footnoting and writing volumes of information. Many professors continued to stress the need for primary sources. Using secondary sources who also were influenced by the same primary sources were acceptable but high grades were achieved by significant use of primary source material.
The whole story of Jonah is a tale of a man named Jonah who was dealing with a “primary source;” God. God spoke to him an invitation to go and preach a message of repentance to the city of Nineveh. He resisted the call and ran from the assignment which results in the age old tale of him being swallowed up by a whale and spit up upon the very shores of Nineveh. Today’s passage is Jonah’s second call. This time he responds, and the people hear his voice and repent.
In our study of the Gospel of Mark, the evangelist doesn’t mince words. Mark’s writing is bold and to the point. Jesus calls people to follow him and they respond immediately. Jesus is a direct source of the Father who is God. Even last week, when we reflected upon this same event through the lens of the Gospel of John, Andrew speaks of Jesus to his brother Simon. Simon doesn’t just believe because of his brother’s testimony. Andrew brings him to Jesus. After that encounter with Jesus, the primary source, Simon becomes Peter and follows the Lord.
We have many secondary influences in our lives. Many of these people are honest and true about what they teach and what they believe. But in matters of faith, we don’t profess faith in our acquaintances. We too need to spend time with Jesus and hear His voice invite us to follow him. Secondary sources, like Andrew the apostle, do their job of witnessing, but we need the personal encounter with Jesus our primary source to walk in faith.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH? A new “inquirers group” is being formed here at Nativity. This group would be designed for adults eighteen and over who have not been Baptized, Confirmed, or had not yet received Holy Communion. The group is open to people who have been members of other Protestant faiths who wish to learn more about our Catholic lifestyle. Due to COVID19 we’ll have to meet in a Zoom format to begin. It will be a gathering to speak together and ask those questions we always wanted to know about concerning our faith, the Bible, our Catholic Tradition etc. If you or someone you know may be interested, please contact Fr. Ron at: nativityparishpastor5@gmail.com or by phone at 716-632-8838, press #2 for the rectory offices and Ext. 402 for Fr. Ron and express your interest. Thank You.