Our priest, Father George, has been gone this month and we have had visiting and retired priests filling in while he’s gone. This morning it was a pleasant surprise to find out that Father Pat O’Connor would be filling in for the next couple of weeks.

This morning’s gospel told the story of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, including the selection of some of the apostles. As Father Pat began his homily he appeared from behind the pulpit holding on to a set of poker chips. He asked the congregation if we were familiar with the game and the term, “going all in.” He proceeded to talk about how the apostles had gone “all-in” when it came to dedicating their lives to the Lord.

I didn’t really give it much thought before today, but Father Pat pointed out the anomalies between how Jesus began His ministry compared to other teachers in that day. Normally, students would be the ones to seek the teachers out to see if they were considered worthy to learn from the teacher. Jesus was the one who sought out the apostles and asked them to follow Him. Father then pointed out the difference between the apostles and other students of the time. Look at who Jesus chose….a tax collector, fishermen, someone who would eventually betray Him……..not a stellar group of guys at first glance.

However, because these men went all in, Jesus blessed them and strengthened them. He didn’t call the qualified. He qualified the called.

We’re still pretty early on in this new year. Is there something that you’ve been holding back on because you don’t feel quite ready? Have you been scared to start that project that you’ve been thinking about because you don’t feel qualified?

If Jesus taught us anything by how He began His ministry it’s that God’s plan for our lives doesn’t have to make sense. Who would have thought that group of men would have gone on to become the fathers of our faith? If we go all in with our faith in the Lord and His plan for our lives, we can have faith that we will be able to do all things through Him.

Today is the clean slate that we’ve been waiting for – physically and mentally. A year full of possibilities and goals lies ahead of us. Even though as an accountant these are some of my busiest days of the year, I absolutely love the feeling that January 1st brings with it.

This morning was the first time that I can ever remember being in church at 8:25am for mass on New Year’s Day. Now, I’m sure there were times when I was younger that I was able to get up that early after NYE, but it’s been a while! I actually set my alarm last night before I went to sleep in preparation for going to mass this morning. I slept through my alarm (Shocker.), but I still woke up in time to make it to 8:30am service.

We had a visiting priest this morning as Father George was out of town. He began the service with a bit of a small homily message. He noted that today was the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, and today’s gospel carried a very special message about her. The gospel told the story of Jesus’ birth and how “……Mary carried all of these things in her heart.” Father explained that Mary carried these things in her heart and it strengthened her faith as a result. Then he stated, “As today is the first day of a new year, it’s an excellent time to examine what we are carrying in our hearts. Are we carrying hate, bitterness, jealously, and other things that have hurt us into the new year, or will we choose to carry all of the blessings we have received from the Lord over the past year with us?”

Pretty important question so early in the morning, but a WONDERFUL question to ask ourselves so early in this new year.

Maybe some things are best left in 2022. What will you choose to carry with you into 2023?