Gulf Pine Catholic • January 16, 2026 5 Compassionate Service 228-374-5650 Bradfordokeefe.com Barker Mausoleum Builders LLC specializes in designing and constructing high-quality mausoleums and columbaria for churches, cemeteries, and memorial grounds. We focus on providing durable, dignified structures that honor loved ones and serve families for generations. Barker Mausoleum Builders LLC Ron Barker 601-722-4156 Barkersmb1@gmail.com Opening Reflection -- Challenge: At the celebration of his twenty-fifth anniversary as a priest, the pastor of our New Jersey parish was asked, “When did you decide to become a priest?” He replied, “A few minutes ago. I must decide to be a priest every moment of my life -- it is a decision I declare and act on.” Summary of Readings: Today’s readings speak to the heart of the servant of God who makes the Lord known to others -- if the shoe fits, wear it! Isaiah tells the servant of the Lord, “I will make you a light to the nations …” Our Psalm response is David’s reply to God’s grace, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Paul tells the Corinthians of his call to be an apostle and their call to holiness, so that Jesus may be glorified. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist declares that his highest purpose was to point others to Jesus. Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you decided to love, serve, and live as a disciple of Jesus, with the purpose of bringing others to the Lord? Our Destiny: In today’s first reading, Isaiah calls the chosen people to turn to the Lord and bring others with them. We should not keep the good news to ourselves but share it with everyone. God desires to show His glory through you and me as witnesses of His power, mercy, joy, and love. While Isaiah’s prophecy states God’s purpose in calling His people to witness His love, today’s Psalm explains how that mission is to be accomplished. Hearts Desire: Our Psalm response is David’s reply to God’s grace bestowed upon him. “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” David’s heart’s desire was to please God. Like you and me, David made mistakes and sinned, but his gratitude to God was always paramount. Will we, in gratitude, lead others to the Lord? Paul’s call and ours: In our second reading, Paul’s mission, the church’s existence, and our salvation are grounded in God making the first move. Creating, loving, suffering, dying, forgiving, rising, inviting, and patiently waiting for our response to make Him known. He will miraculously move mountains, sacrificially mount a cross of death, and send prophets, angels, and saints to get our attention. All for the purpose of making disciples who will love and serve Jesus. God invites you and me to share in His pursuit of winning souls. God is eternally patient, aggressively forgiving, and tenaciously creative in trying to get our attention. Hear Jesus’s words to us: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” (John 15:16). I can now fully and without constraint love the Lord Jesus Christ with my mind, heart, and soul, and lead people to Him. Our Purpose: Today’s Gospel focuses on John the Baptist, who, by preaching, baptizing, and calling sinners to repentance, turned hearts and minds to the Lord. What creative ways do you use to turn people to Jesus? When have you had a part in making someone a disciple of Jesus? Our means of leading others to Jesus will be how we have conformed ourselves to be Christ-like, loving, caring, forgiving, serving, patient, and persistent. Closing Comments: Let’s recap. Today’s readings emphasize God’s initiative, the call to do His will, our sin as an obstacle to a holy response, and the necessity of seeking God’s saving power (salvation) for our well-being on earth and for securing eternal life. Can we admit that we are sinners? I hope so! Should that make us feel discouraged, hopeless, or wretched? I hope not! Paul wrote, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Romans 5:20). However, if left unchecked, sin will create a breach between God and us and fracture the holy alliance to which we have been called. “Every saint has a past; every sinner has a future” -- Oscar Wilde. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life -- for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3: 16 -17). Don’t wait until later. Let’s start early this New Year to build and strengthen our future in fellowship with the Lord and, in turn, call someone else to a holy alliance with God. Our goal is to get to heaven (our eternal home). God has provided everything we need to accomplish this task. But the road to heaven would be much easier if we brought a few dozen people along with us. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Tennessee. Visit his website: www.homilypearls. com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Responsorial Psalm: 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Gospel: John 1:29-34 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus calling Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information.
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