no ordinary day
"This is the time of fulfillment." —Mark 1:15
Today is the first day of "ordinary time." This doesn't have anything to do with being ordinary; rather, it means this day is "ordered" according to a certain system. Therefore, you don't have to expect this day to be ordinary. The afterglow of Christmas is still with us. This too is the day the Lord has made (see Ps 118:24). "Ordinary time" is also the acceptable time; this day is the day of salvation (see 2 Cor 6:2).
"Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!" (Mk 1:15) Jesus is saying to each of us and to countless others: "Come after Me; I will make you fishers of men" (Mk 1:17). No matter how committed we are to Jesus, we can always grow deeper in our love for Him. Today, may each of us follow Jesus more closely and love Him more deeply than ever before. If we do, this will be no ordinary time. Love Jesus more and more!
Prayer: Father, "I had rather one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere" (Ps 84:11).
Promise: "In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, He has spoken to us through His Son, Whom He has made Heir of all things and through Whom He first created the universe." —Heb 1:1-2
Praise: Hilary was a prolific writer for Jesus. He wrote commentaries on the Scriptures, defended against heresies, and composed the earliest known Latin hymns.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, June 20, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 26, 1996