Extraordinary Times

In the Catholic Church the time after Epiphany to Ash Wednesday is called Ordinary Time. That seems to be a misnomer in our world today. In some parts of the country, there have been record snow storms, tornados and hurricanes. 

In the political sphere, there have been big divisive issues such as the Jan. 6 insurrection, and voting and filibuster bills that are polarizing groups in Congress. In the Church Pope Francis’ Synodality gatherings around the world are holding difficult discussions about how to come together as communities of mercy and love.  And in the health care area, there are different views about the treatment of Covid and its variants. 

This is anything but ordinary time. It seems like we are living in extraordinary times of discord and hate. Just as in families everyone does not agree, so also in these wider realms, there are opposing viewpoints.  Divisiveness seems to be the agenda for this time in history. Upheavals are constantly on the horizon, and ordinary time seems to have disappeared altogether. There is always something happening to jar us out of our comfort zones. 

Yet God always gives us the grace to meet these challenges if we seek his guidance. “My grace is sufficient for you,” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Jesus reminds us. We need to let God lead us through these extraordinarily turbulent times. God wants only our good.  If we hang onto this assurance, we will be able to reach a certain degree of understanding and peace. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Limping to God I come to you, God, weather-beaten and limping, asking for forgiveness for all the times I have failed to be faithful and attentive to all those around me, especially the elderly who have run the race, the poor, the lonely and abandoned, who need my care and concern.     Is there any hope for these old bones? What will it take to change my limp into a surge of energy and a ready step? Teach me to become more caring, more responsive, more aware. Give me eyes to see and the will to act on my good intentions.   Water my dried up spirit and shriveled body, expand my shrunken heart. Give me eyes to see what you are leading me to do even as my bones creak and my legs become unsteady. Make me remember that I am here to serve, to listen, to be ready to be your hands and feet today.   Barbara Mayer, OSB    
Read more
Image
  Inspired by Scholastica Learning from Grief When I read the news headlines today (and most days), I felt overwhelmed with sadness. Most of the news was about shootings, injustices, tragedies, and murders. I wanted to ignore the grief, to put it out of my mind.   But Richard Rohr, a Catholic author, says we need to feel the grief because it has a lot to teach us. It seems the writers of the Psalms knew this. Of the 150 psalms, a third are about grief.   The psalmists grieved being overcome by enemies, losing loved ones, leaving their land, suffering illness, and more. The psalms of lament teach us that there is value in God-oriented exasperation. The psalmists always seemed to know God was with them and would help them survive. Our tears and sorrow are signs of our humanity. Lament is a very deeply spiritual practice. It is important to take time to grieve and to heal from our losses. One author called lament a ritual of cleansing and preparation for what is yet to come. Wit
Read more
Image
  Inspired by Scholastica     A Tree’s Lament The fierce winds blew whipping my branches, stripping my leaves. Then I felt a painful crack down my right side ripping open a limb, crippling my strength.   I feared the storm’s wildness raging on-- would it end my life on this peaceful green spot overlooking the graves of women long passed, with old majestic buildings looming behind me?   It holds so many memories of flowing robes and veils, women who devoted their lives to prayer and teaching and serving others.   Maybe my broken wound will heal and not be deadly. Hopefully they will not chop me down completely, let me live a little longer to provide shade and beauty for my monastery home.   Barbara Mayer, OSB              
Read more