The First Reading reminds how from darkness, a situation so dire and seemingly inescapable, God will rescue us. We must endure the struggles, often of our own making in some way,
but He will bring great good to everything if we cooperate.
 
The Psalms rejoice in this, in the rightness of turning everything to God. EVERY good thing comes from Him. 
All troubles and anxieties – He will wash away. 
All difficulties, HE will resolve in the way that is best. 
Day by day and moment by moment, we try to do the next right thing as He wants and all will be great beyond our comprehension in the end - which might not be until heaven...
 
Addressing a conflict between Christians, St. Paul redirects people back, not to human leaders, but to God. 
Let there be no striving for power or honor, nor putting down others because you feel you are in a more righteous position,
but seek God’s way – reconciliation and peace.
 
The Gospel begins by indicating that John’s arrest was a signal for Jesus to begin his public ministry with followers. 
He waits for God’s time – a long wait! Men of 30 were married and their children were close to marrying, yet He lived a single life,
waiting for God the Father to reveal the “chosen” time.
But when He begins, it is by building a community that would be the first people in visible His Church on earth.
Likely known, at least by name, to at least some of those He called, Jesus asks them to give up everything and follow Him. 
What had happened earlier in the days and weeks leading
to this moment and preparing them for the moment
when they were called to abandon everything and follow Him?
January
26th.......... St. Thomas More Open House - Catholic Schools Week begins !
.................. See school website for information on school vouchers to attend private schools
February
1 st............. Saturday! 7th Grade Confirmation : Opening Retreat 10:00 - 3:00 pm
13th............ 8th Grade Confirmation : Mary our Mother
26th........... Ash Wednesday (but we just celebrated Christmas!....)
March
1st............. RCIA Rite of Sending &Election, Brunch
8th............ Daylight Savings - Set Clocks Ahead, sadly we lose an hour... offer it up for Lent!
.................. RCIA Candidate Penitential Rite
21st........... First Communion: Jesus Day Retreat
15th ........... RCIA Scrutinies Begin, 8:00 am Mass
22nd .......... RCIA Scrutinies, 10:00 am Mass
29th .......... RCIA Scrutinies, Noon Mass
Newsy Notes
7 th Grade Confirmation RETREAT!
February 1st - 10:00 am Parish Dining Hall
Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in our youth
the fire of your love!
Public School Students
in under-performing schools can receive
significant tuition assistance from the state of Ohio
Grades - K - 12 - Regardless of income!
Watch for details on the parish or school website
Meditation
" Learn to will whatever is my will.
Learn to minister to me
in those things on which I am bent, and
do not pry curiously into all that I wish to do. Suffer it to be so now. "
- St. Gregory Thaumaturgus
Greetings Parents!

“I don’t know if I want to go. Who else will be there? Will anyone my age be there? Am I going to look like the only one not knowing how to do it right?” These are the plethora of questions poured out by a nervous child about to join a practice for a sport not played before. Fortunately, we knew there were multiple other “newbies” and the sport’s coaches made clear that inexperienced people were welcome and sought out and would be taught what they needed to know.
              
             It was a drop-and-run scenario, our boys made clear that parents do not hang around for high school sports. Praying all would go well and that their fears would be allayed, at pickup time we found two very happy boys who were most excited to return for the next practice. Yay!

             As adults, this can be a challenge, starting something new in which we have an interest, but perhaps knowing no one and not knowing how the "program" we are starting is supposed to work. For actions of faith or faith-related events, this can be even more so. Our society doesn't not support faith as something on which we act outside of the Church walls. To deal with people in our day-to-day lives the way Christ would do, this runs smack against every TV and movie plot that presents revenge as the satisfying conclusion. "You wronged me so I will wrong you!" Those shows that try to portray one person as "good and pure" usually also portrays them as weak and a stronger person comes in to execute the righteous justice due.

             So for us to offer forgiveness or for us to suffer silently and "offer it up," people think we are fools. For us to give up an evening to attend an extra faith event, Wow! Must be a holy roller. And yet, research proves that those who are more involved in their faith report a greater happiness with life - even people who've suffered terribly. Even people who've been wronged beyond comprehension (look up Immaculee Ilibagiza!) live happy, full lives -attributing their joy to God in their life.

             So why is it so hard to take an extra step to spend time with God? Why are we sometimes more reluctant to begin a prayer routine of 15 minutes a day than we are to begin a workout regimen that consumes an hour and costs money? I think sometimes we have to overcome the perhaps subconcious perception that we have then crossed a line into being "one of 'those' people who are so goody-two-shoes." We worry that if some people knew, we might be excluded from events where others think we're too straight - and that is a real possibility. We might make others uncomfortable because they will think more about what they say and do when we are there, even though we wouldn't say anything about it and probably not think anything about it, we're just trying to work our way closer. That's plenty of work for me without trying to see whether everyone else is working closer or not!

             And afterward, after stepping into a little more time with God or a little more focus on faith outside the Church walls, we might be as excited as two boys who'd found a new sport, who met other great people excited about it, and who found it enriched their life instead of reducing it.
               Hug your children tight and remind them that their guardian angel is always present and offering advice for their greatest good. Help them to say, "Yes!" to trying more ways to talk with God - and model it for them! May God bless you and your families abundantly!

-- Linda Bader, Coordinator of Religious Education

P.S. Did you know... the holy angels are always trying o draw us nearer to God, but the fallen angels will do everything they can to interfere - including causing car trouble or family strife JUST to distract you from your good intent! Ask St. Michael the Archangel and Mary to protect your family with God's host of angels!