January 21, 2024: 3rd Sunday in Post-Epiphany Ordinary Time

In the recent Christmas Season, we celebrated that God became present to us fully in Christ, the Word Made Flesh.

This Sunday, Word of God Sunday, we see how that Word affects the world.

Before Christ, Jonah was sent to proclaim a message of repentance to the Ninevites, and unlike most situations with prophets in Israel, the people of Nineveh readily responded, and God turned from the punishment He threatened.

Jesus came proclaiming the Gospel message, calling people to repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand, a message meant for all people.

Furthermore, He called fisherman, Sts. Peter, James, and John to follow Him and find a new way of life.

With the Kingdom of God at hand, we, too, have a new life now in the Word, which calls us to turn our focus toward building the Kingdom of God.

5 years ago, those of us gathered at World Youth Day had a profound encounter with the Word of God manifested among the thousands present, and we were sent forth from the Closing Mass to let the Holy Spirit send us forth to live out the Word.

On this Sanctity of Life Sunday, we're reminded of the great gift of life, and our call to build the Kingdom of God by fostering a culture of life, especially for the vulnerable unborn, so that God's image can fully be revealed in this world.