As we enter Ordinary Time, the real work of Christmas begins. Today’s Scripture reminds us that we must have a listening heart. We are all called by God. The work we must do is to listen to God’s voice and to do God’s will.

Howard Thurman, in his poem, “The Work of Christmas” tells us that when everything has returned to normal after the holidays, the real work of Christmas begins. He tells us that we must seek out the lost and broken. We must feed the hungry and bring peace to all nations.

The same work that Jesus gave to his first disciples, he gave to us. In a world where we hear so many voices, are we open to hearing God’s voice? Like the prophet Samuel and the first disciples of Jesus, are we ready to respond with our entire hearts to God? Our response to God must affect the way we act. Sometimes, we must hear God calling us repeatedly.

As we celebrate Ordinary Time, we must live it extraordinarily. It is by our love that we hear God’s voice calling us into life. Through our service to those in need and proclaiming peace to a wary world, we find our true vocation. Finally, we can say, Lord, I am here to do your will and not my own will. As we celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, let us listen for God’s voice calling us to become the “Dream” of God.