By Deacon Dan Wagnitz | For On Mission
In the middle of June, we slipped back into Ordinary Time, much like pushing off from shore in a canoe on a beautiful summer evening. Settle into your seat, feel the wood of the paddle in your hands as you dip the blade deep and pull against the solid resistance of the water. With each stroke of the paddle, a small swirl forms on the surface where the blade emerges and droplets drip off the tip of the paddle. Ahead, ripples radiate from each side of the canoe from where the prow slices into the otherwise glassy surface. The canoe glides almost effortlessly as you settle into a steady rhythm — like a heartbeat.
I say we slipped back into Ordinary Time because it is important to remember that there are two seasons of Ordinary Time. The first is a brief period between Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. The second, which we are now in, is much longer. We emerged from the Easter Season and began our journey both ahead and back around to Advent.
The fact that Ordinary Time spans two distinct periods underscores its importance. Ordinary Time is a bridge between the high liturgical seasons that mark the coming of our Savior in the wood of the manger in Bethlehem to our liberation from death on the wood of the cross on Calvary to the fulfillment of our hope in the empty tomb. But to think of Ordinary Time as only a bridge is like being so focused on a destination that we miss the beauty of the here and now.
Take a quick look back at June and recall how Ordinary Time began. We reentered Ordinary Time on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. The first three Sundays were the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Even as Sundays return to their numbered sequence, every opportunity we have to experience God — in his Word, in the hearts of fellow believers and tangibly in the Eucharist — is an extraordinary experience.
The two periods of Ordinary Time provide us with a wholeness to the liturgical year. The Church is wise in giving us the liturgical seasons, just as nature, reflecting the wisdom of its Maker, gives us its seasons. Each set of seasons reminds us that time is both linear and cyclical.
From a linear spiritual standpoint, we have the opportunity to leave behind those aspects of ourselves that are not helpful on our life’s journey. Through the Sacrament of Penance, we can set aside the behaviors that weigh us down, that are obstacles to loving more deeply.
While Lent emphasizes repentance and renewal, Ordinary Time is where most of our living takes place. This is where we experience the challenge of living the holy routines we pledged last Lent. This is where we face the challenge of loving those we find the most difficult to love. This is where we can bring our gained experiences and accumulated knowledge of ourselves, of God, and of our neighbors to go further than ever before.
From a cyclical spiritual standpoint, we have the confidence that we have been this way before. As long as we mark where we are in relation to the Gospel, we should feel comfortable enough to explore a little deeper, a little wider this time around. It is like returning to a place we are familiar with, yet determined to discover something new. With that kind of curiosity, we will not be disappointed.
From a faith standpoint, this is the time to challenge ourselves and form holy habits. There is a myriad of user-friendly resources available to help us deepen our faith lives. Additionally, there are numerous volunteer opportunities to serve others, both within our parishes and in the broader community. As St. Paul writes, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom 12:2).”
Think of this journey through Ordinary Time as a long paddle around a favorite lake. It feels familiar; you’ve been around it before. You are at home. You know the journey and the destination. There is a purpose. Breathe deeply. Be calm and quiet. Listen. This time around, make a conscious intention to be aware of God’s presence with you and within you. By the time you return to the dock in the gathering darkness at the end of Ordinary Time, you will be excited to share all that you have experienced along the way.