This weekend’s readings focus on the desire to serve God. We serve the Father in order to carry out His intentions. We have two clear examples of this desire: first in the Old Testament, when God is calling on the prophet Samuel, the future great statesman, who will one day anoint the first two kings of Israel: Saul and David; and the second is in the New Testament, when Jesus Christ calls his first disciples, Peter and his brother Andrew, who become pillars of the future Church. These are Parallel events emphasizing the importance of Jesus as the son of God, which all will slowly begin to recognize as the coming of the kingdom of God. The appointment of Samuel takes place in the temple in Jerusalem, at the direction of God, Yahweh. The call of the Apostles takes place in the presence of John the Baptist, who was to recognize in Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. Jesus, on an equal footing with God, appoints people to carry out the mission of saving the future. In both cases it is a kind of experience where Jesus emphasizes the will of God. The initiative to establish in the New Testament comes from Jesus himself; it is his attitude and teaching which provokes interest in people to follow Him. Although the Christmas season officially ended last Sunday, in many areas of the world it traditionally takes it to February 2nd, the Presentation of the Lord or Sacrificing Ceremony of the Lord, also called the Feast of Our Lady of Candlemas. It is also, however, an opportunity to extend the beauty and warmth of the Christmas season, extending it for a few weeks wherein you can continue to sing Christmas carols and pastorals, while priests have more time to go around to homes of their parishioners. Perhaps we, too, can use this time to adopt a priest after the caroling and the enjoyment of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. How do you adopt a priest? Invite him to visit you and your family in your home -- simply talk to him personally or leave a phone message. The feast of Our Lady of Candlemas -- on February 2nd -- means the Presentation or Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus in the temple by his parents after the 40 days of purification of Mary. In Jewish tradition, any leakage of water in a woman demanded the forty-day cleaning. On this day, the infant was brought to the temple and was offered to God (especially the first-born and more importantly the firstborn son) for everything belongs to God. Mary and Joseph, having a poor peasant status, brought to the temple two turtledoves. Against this background one can now better understand why in many places Christmas is extended to February 2nd, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Let us rejoice, therefore, that we have more time in an atmosphere of Christmas. May God bless you! Fr. Richard