Welcome to Ordinary Time | January 11

Click here to read the daily readings from the USCCB website.

It's the first week of Ordinary Time. After the beginning of the liturgical year with Advent and the great celebration of the season of Christmas, we now enter into a few weeks of Ordinary Time before we begin our preparation for Easter with the season of Lent.

Ordinary Time is an amazing opportunity to put those New Year's Resolutions to work. I love Ordinary Time because it's all about doing God's will in the, you guessed it, ordinary things of life. The color for this season is green which points to growth. Like a plant, we're called to let the rays of the a relationship with God and the water of daily prayer and the reception of the sacraments nourish our souls.


I believe that's why we hear the proclamation of the Kingdom within the first stanza of today's Gospel reading.

"This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel."

Now is the time to seek the Kingdom in the ordinary things of life. How do we serve the Lord in our daily tasks? How do we build a rhythm into our lives that allows us to glorify God? Have you asked the Lord what He wants of you?

It's still cold out. It's still dark out. My least favorite month (February) looms in the ever approaching future. Yet God is good and He is working a new thing in us as He says in Isaiah 43. Growth can't happen without the right ingredients. Let's use Ordinary Time to make sure we're setting ourselves up for success in growth.

I challenge you to evaluate your life right now. Or set aside some time later today to do it (make sure to set an alarm in your phone so you don't forget!). What space have you made  daily to be with Jesus? What is He calling you to that you haven't been doing? What is one habit you can start to die to yourself and rise with Jesus? It could be as simple as making your bed every morning if you don't already do that. Or starting your day with a morning offering. Maybe commit to praying before meals if that's not something you're in the habit of doing.

But turn one thing in your life over to God. He'll bless your sacrifice.