Today we celebrate the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Each liturgical year is split in seasons of: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time. The highest number of weeks is within Ordinary Time. This season is split in two parts. A shorter one begins on Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and ends on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The longer part runs from the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, which falls on Monday after Pentecost Sunday, to Saturday before the 1st Sunday of Advent. During Ordinary Time, the Church celebrates the fullness of the mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ emphasizing the first day of the week (Sunday) as the day dedicated to the Lord. Sunday, the Lord’s Day, is the original Christian Feast Day, that has been observing since the apostolic times as the day of the Resurrection of the Lord. Sunday is the oldest feast day in the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church (2177). Sunday is also a day of grace and rest from work. The Catechism teaches that on Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health (2185).
We are truly blessed and privileged that we have this opportunity to have the Eucharist every Sunday. Due to a shortage of priests and other serious circumstances in many regions of the world, even in Canada, the faithful cannot praise the Lord with the Sunday Eucharist on weekly basis.
This Sunday we also observe a World Day of Migrants and Refugees instituted by Pope St. Pius X in 1914.
The annual week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be concluded with the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle, which falls this Friday.
God bless,
Father Peter