Dear Friends,
So here we are—finally! — back in Ordinary Time. I love the sacred seasons of Lent and Easter with the big finale of Pentecost. Yet by the end of the Easter Season, I am always ready for a return to Ordinary Time. Yes, there are a few feast days like Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi, but we are now firmly at home within the ordinary!
It’s important to remember, however, that “Ordinary Time” doesn’t mean that nothing special is happening. In fact, the term “Ordinary Time” has nothing to do with common or normal. The title of the season comes from the Latin word ordinale, which means “to count.” In Ordinary Time we count the weeks after Pentecost up until Advent and then we count the weeks after Christmas until Lent.
During Ordinary Time we hear Jesus’ teachings and his actions. We go through the gospel of Matthew in Year A, Mark in Year B and Luke in Year C. Then we repeat the cycle. Why do we do this? Because as followers of Jesus, we are always trying to know him more, to listen to his teachings more attentively and to follow his Way more deeply. We use this time to let the entirety of the life of Jesus enter our consciousness and seep into our souls. We let ourselves be continually formed by the life and teachings of Jesus so that his ways become our ways and our world becomes ever more his Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
So, what are some things we can do to let ourselves be formed by Christ? Why not consider some of these suggestions:
- Commit to at least 20 minutes of quiet time each day. Make it a time to be silently aware of the presence of the Lord within you and all around you. (Feel free to join our Centering Prayer Time every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. We simply share a brief teaching of a few words and then spend 20 minutes together in silent prayer.)
- Read a few verses of Scripture each day. Maybe read the Gospel of the day so that Jesus’ words are a part of your daily life.
- Pick a good spiritual book and do some reading on a regular basis.
- Do one of the corporal works of mercy weekly: feed the hungry, visit the sick or lonely…
- Mark your calendar now to join us in September as we begin our third reading cohort. We will once again offer the opportunity to read together Brian McClaren’s book We Make The Road by Walking. We will gather weekly to discuss a chapter of his book. I’ve done this reading group twice now and both of those groups have transformed into “little churches” who are STILL meeting regularly on their own to support each other on the spiritual journey.
- Make it a habit to end your day with a very simple and brief “examen.” Right before going to bed, just give yourself a moment to reflect on the day and see where you could see the blessings of God, sense the presence of God and become aware of how you can be even more attuned to God’s presence and action in your life tomorrow.
Take advantage of the gift of Ordinary Time to grow in depth and maturity of faith. Get to know Jesus every more deeply. Become ever more aware of his love with and within you. And live his Way every more fully every day of your life.
Peace and every good,
Father Liam