The Everyday of our Lives

While the heat of summer gradually surrenders to the cooler breezes of autumn, the church’s liturgical calendar celebrates its longest season, Ordinary Time.  A year of preparation has brought us, the communion of saints, to this point.  To begin with, Advent presents a time of waiting for the birth of Jesus; Christmas Season, a time to pay homage to our God—both divine and human; Lent, a time of repentance; and finally, Easter Triduum culminates into Easter Season, a time for rejoicing in our redemption, through Jesus’ resurrection. 

The wisdom of Holy Mother Church provides these thirty-three or thirty-four weeks of Ordinary Time as a sanctuary of proclamation.  The readings declare that we have been saved, forgiven, and reconciled to the covenant between God and His children.  The focus is intended to remind us of the roots of salvation history.  The salvation faithfully promised in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament. 

Our lives, too, celebrate seasons.  The photos that line our bookcases and fill our family albums attest to the special events: weddings, graduations, baptisms, vacations, and anniversaries.  But what of the many usual weeks and months that don’t merit photographs?  In fact, our personal “Ordinary Times” are what roots our lives as well.  From these roots, we live our values and find embedded deep in our routines our personal proclamations of being God’s children.  In our day-to-day witness of living, loving and giving, we reflect His love.  Through ordinary events, God guides us to a mature sense of daily spiritual mindfulness. 

During Jesus’ life, God, the Father, was present in the many aspects of his journey.   In his teaching, healing, communal breaking and sharing, and ultimately, his gift of dying, Jesus celebrated the Joy and Sacrifice of everyday living.  God is also present in our lives. Although we have no photos to show that we wait in physicians’ offices, carpool to softball games, or scramble to prepare dinner, nevertheless, we live these events.  Through these precious rooted days, God’s constancy teaches the hand-in-hand effect of Joy and Sacrifice.  As we discern the ways of everyday living in God’s love, we are affirmed of His everlasting presence in every moment.  In the bounty of ordinariness, we proclaim, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come” (Lk 11:2).