Liturgical Ordinary Time

How do you feel about Ordinary time in the Liturgical year? I’ll tell ya, for the longest time I thought, “Oh…nothing special here.” We aren’t in a season of anticipation like Advent or Lent, and we’re not in the season of Celebration like Christmastide or Easter. So you might say, well what’s there to celebrate? Maybe, this season of Ordinary time is a comfort to you after all the craziness of the holiday seasons. I can relate to that, too. The hustle of the holiday season can really wear you down, so that ending up back in Ordinary time can feel comfortable. But Ordinary time is a season that is perfect for observing the Ordinary as EXTRAORDINARY.

“We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!” JPII

If we think of the seasons in terms of our Spiritual Lives, we also go through seasons in our interior life. Life events can bring us joy, or sorrow. There are also times when things are just “Ok”. It could be a season in our life when nothing great and nothing terrible is going on. It’s just the daily grind.

“The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise him to the greatest extent of our powers.”
Maximilian Kolbe

Let’s not be satisfied with the mundane. Do we need to go over the top? No, but we can do something to counter a lukewarm indifference to this faith season. Let’s take back this Ordinary time as our Mission time to serve and grow deeper in our knowledge of our faith.

Practical Application:

Set up a prayer corner in your home.

Pause at that crucifix on your wall to say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Bring a small bouquet to the church on your lunch hour.

Arrive 5 minutes early to Mass to pray a decade of the Rosary.

Pick an elderly relative and go visit them. ( Works of Mercy.)

Read the gospel for the day, or listen to the podcast of the readings as you are getting ready for your day.