Weaving Together the Beloved Community - Ordinary Times

“God makes all that is ordinary sacred through you”.

With the beginning of June, we enter the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. I have always loved the name of that in the liturgy and particularly because in our hemisphere Ordinary Time begins in late spring on into summer. Grass grows, flowers bloom, and the goodness of God is in the every day.

During Children’s Sermons, I will often explain that Ordinary Time is like the time when an aunt or your grandparents haven’t seen you for some time. It may have not been noticeable to all the people around you but to them, “My, oh my, how you have grown.”

That is who we are supposed to be as a spiritual people. Sometimes our growth builds up over time and those around us can see that growth because it crashes through like the water breaking through a dam. Often, however, our growth is like watching the grass grow. Like an athlete, we must work on spiritual practices, be more intentional with our values, knit together important communities, sometimes without seeing much progress.

I remember keeping a journal on several of my delegations to Mexico where, as the facilitator, I just had no hope for our group. Why did I think this was a good idea? By the end, however, my journal reflected the incredible growth, learning, and transformation that had taken place. The journal reminded me that not all good things start that way.

So I had to cultivate practices that grew like grass, slowly, surely, so that I wouldn’t be locked in my initial negative opinions. So that, in the end, I could meet the group and their growth and transformation.

What spiritual practices, values, communities will you give yourself to this spring and summer so that you grow like grass? God makes all that is ordinary sacred through you.

✝