Ordinary Time began this week in the Church calendar. After the Advent-Christmas season the liturgical prayers are less festive, more ordinary.

But this is certainly no ordinary time in the United States. The horrendous and tragic fires in Los Angeles are far from ordinary. The Santa Ana winds and dry brush whipped the fire through the city and surrounding area. Over 12,000 structures were burned to the ground and at least 25 people died in the disaster.

Even more extraordinary is the election of a convicted felon to the presidency. His appointments to high offices and his agenda for expelling illegal immigrants are very worrisome. Concerned leaders are trying to find ways to control this damage to our democracy.

On the world sphere, the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria last December after years of atrocity crimes was another extraordinary event. The government was taken by surprise when adversaries took over.  There was evidence of grave international crimes by the former government.

And a cease-fire and a release of hostages between Israel and Hamas were announced just last week. The truce that has been impossible for so long now has been agreed upon by the two sides. The U.S. has been working hard to bring about peace in the region.

I’m sure there are more extraordinary events happening in what the Church calls “Ordinary Time.” Maybe even in our own lives we’re experiencing extraordinary happenings such as reconciliation in families, a newborn child that was thought impossible, a life-saving surgery that would have been unthinkable twenty years ago. So although the Church calls this “Ordinary Time,” we rejoice to celebrate the extraordinary, even like breathing and brain functioning in our daily lives.