This Sunday ends our current liturgical season of Ordinary Time, as Lent will begin this coming Wednes-day on February 17, (Ash Wednesday). We will sing the Gloria and Alleluia for the last time today – not to be heard again until the Easter Vigil on April 3.
We end this season with yet another miraculous curing by Jesus of a leper. We have continued to hear of Jesus’ works throughout these past 5 weeks. Have we walked with Him, grown to know Him, learned how to serve Him throughout these weeks? If not, there’s still time – every day we’re given the op-portunity to follow Him! Our song during the presentation of gifts invites us to follow Him once again – “O let all who thirst, let them come to the water. And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord: without money, without price. Why should you pay the price except for the Lord?” (“Come to the Water’ by J. Foley) Christ is waiting for us to answer the call that we heard about with Samuel in the middle of the night back on the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time on January 17. From that point, the apostles heard His call, many people in the whole of Galilee heard His call, and many were healed of their infirmities. Have we also heard His call and answered it? If so, our songs during Communion remind us of who He is and why we are fol-lowing Him: “I am the Bread of Life. You who come to me shall not hunger; and who believe in me shall not thirst.” (“I am the Bread of Life” by S. Toolan) and “Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me, I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.” (“You are Mine” by D. Haas) Christ is calling each of us to follow Him throughout all of our days.
Before we enter into Lent, we sing a joyful closing song, praising God for His goodness: “Come, then, all you nations, sing of your Lord’s goodness, melodies of praise and thanks to God. Ring out the Lord’s glory, praise Him with your music, worship Him and bless His name.” (“Sing of the Lord’s Goodness” by E. Sands)