Ordinary time

"when he had accomplished purification from sins, he was seated on the right hand of the majesty on high."

These are the words in the first reading as we enter into ordinary time. We bid farewell to Christmas, Jesus as a child and his hidden life, and we welcome him as a man stepping into the public realm for all the world to see.

Ordinary time is an opportunity to see Jesus in action. The readings at the liturgies reflect this reality.

The first reading reminds us why Jesus does what he does. His mission statement, his statement of motivation can be found in that one sentence from above, "when he had accomplished purification from sins."

All of Jesus' activity can be focused in that one activity.

This is why Jesus Jesus says the time of fulfillment is at hand in today's gospel.

What do we see next. Peter and Andrew and the sons of Zebedee encounter the call of Christ while doing ordinary work: mending and casting of nets.

Jesus doesn't wait to speak to us when we go to retreats, he wants to get our attention while we work so that even our ordinary sweat and toil can be transformed from earning a living to making a life founded on that glorious call of Christ.

In the work of our hands offered for the glory of God we too accomplish the purification from sins. For as baptized christians we are all priest of God so that we can sanctify and sacrifice to make Holy and life giving the tasks at hand.