Ordinary Time or Not?


Image result for light of the world photosOn Jan. 10, the liturgy returns to Ordinary Time in many churches.  The Christmas season is officially over with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Jan. 9 for Roman Catholics.

I like Ordinary Time. It gives us a period to breathe and slow down before Lent begins. I wonder, however, if this year things won’t be so ordinary. We have the presidency of Donald Trump beginning which seems a little unpredictable to many people. Every day his tweets offer a new round of questionable comments so it’s hard to know what to expect. The elimination of the Affordable Care Act  with nothing definite to replace it will bring hardship to many who will be left without insurance. Relationships with other countries seem to be changing. Swings in the weather loom more extraordinary too with warmer temperatures in certain parts of the world, and earthquakes and tornadoes occurring more often in other areas.

Whatever happens this year, we have to stay alert to protect everyone's basic human rights and do what we can to care for our environment.We have to be strong, hopeful people who do not succumb to fear and intimidation. Jesus promises to be with us in all the circumstances of our lives, in good times and in hard times, and in ordinary times. We must rely on him to be our light and to guide our ways. 

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