On the Blessings of Ordinary Time

And so we start ordinary times…. To come to an appreciation of what ordinary time exactly is, let’s take a moment to look back on the last six months in the Church. Since the beginning of the liturgical year with Advent in December, we have been in some kind of special liturgical season most of the last six months: December and part of January was Advent and Christmas seasons. Counting backwards from now, May and April was Easter season and Lent spanned from the beginning of March. We have had only a little over a month and a half of ordinary time. Gone now are the extra and special longer Masses, the special sacrifices and the periods stressing preparation (Advent) or purification (Lent) or celebration (Easter) with their colorful vestments and unique music.

What is so special about ordinary time?

Well… Each year, the liturgical calendar gives us this long stretch of ordinary time, in part, as a gift to just spiritually be… to spiritually relax and enter into the Spirit’s gifts that have been recently given to us…   Ordinary time is our time to search, explore and integrate that New Gospel Life we have recently received during the last six months with the people and communities of our lives…

What special graces and experiences of holiness can accompany these seemingly quiet and ordinary periods routine?

For me, perhaps it’s how the Spirit can often fill my quiet, semi-disciplined summer routines with a relaxed but Graced, everyday-still-going-about-my-spiritual-business type of attitude – even without all the feasts, celebrations, long-term commitments and spiritual disciplines that are usually necessary to keep me spiritually on track. It is as if the Pentecostal Spirit, built up over the last six months of special seasons, now quietly leads and carries me forward as I journey through the summer and into the fall.

I’m sure you too have experienced the many “special graces” given during ordinary times… Reconnecting with friends and family around barbeques and reunions are invitations to both celebrate shared joys and to forgive past festering wounds… Sharing summer days and festivals with others or taking a summer “art or dance class” can restore or even foster new friendships in our lives. Even becoming a short term couch potato (as students often do) or spending quiet times in the yard gardening can empower, clarify or transform our inner visions and lives, bring us to a fall with a renewed vigor and purpose.

Here at Strugglin’Catholic.com, we are praying that during this summer, the Spirit will continue to lead and guide you in your struggle to live the Gospel. Our prayer is that of the Church: that by grace, we ORDINARY people living in ORDINARY time with REAL LIFE CHALLENGES, can live EXTRAORDINARY lives of love and grace daily.

May the Love of Jesus be on your lips and the motivating love in your heart this summer!

Author: P. J. West, Jr.

Paul J. West Jr. is a cradle Catholic and native Chicagoan who has ministered in Catholic Schools, parishes and hospitals for over two decades. His current ministries are focused on both hospital chaplaincy and writing. Prior to this, he ministered as an educator for almost twenty five years teaching religion, scripture, philosophy and ethics at four Chicago area high schools and adults at the Chicago Catholic Scripture School. His parish ministry has included preaching, teaching, writing and serving as a Eucharistic minister. Mr. West, who is native south sider, has been married for almost 30 years to Dr. Joy West. They have raised four beautiful daughters who are all hardcore Bears and White Sox fans!!!! View all posts by P. J. West, Jr.