Twilight Twitches

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My dear Sisters and Brothers,
We are into Ordinary Time in the Liturgical year, summertime, and the “slow season” when the roads and restaurants are more accessible. I think the temptation for many of us is to say, “Ho-hum, same stuff, different year,” and just float along.

However, the Church gives us a wonderful opportunity. During this slow season, after we have celebrated Easter, and before the cycle of Mysteries begins again with Advent/Christmas, we have something like twenty-four weeks to be slow and reflective. So, in case you need some material for reflection, I invite you to consider my ponderings...

Dear Family,
As we move gently back into the ‘greenness’ of ordinary time, our liturgy brings us back to the cycle of St. Matthew’s gospel. I think about all the ‘ordinary’ things that make up our lives. At times, we might think that ordinary means boring. Same old, same old...

With Matthew, we’ll hear the stories of the encounters of Jesus with the rich and the poor, the blind of eye and spirit, the broken of body and mind. He heals, and when he heals he says, “these things are but stepping stones for you to join with me in the journey back to my Father.”

His understanding of his Father’s love, his acceptance of his Father’s will, brought him to the pinnacle of his Mission: the gift of his life. There is nothing very ordinary about what he did, and yet our faith gives us eyes to see and hearts to know that everything he did has now become our foundation, our ORDINARY. He calls us to make his love our mission, our ordinary way of living.

Dear Family,
Today we celebrate the last of the feasts that form the wonderful array of celebrations surrounding the core event of our faith: the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. As Paul says, if Jesus isn’t risen from the dead, our faith is in vain.” (I Cor 15:14) Next week we begin the Sundays of “Ordinary Time.” Does using the word ‘ordinary’ play down what comes now? In reality, it is our extra-ordinary way of living out what Jesus did for us and for living out what He wants us to do.

It’s not a boring reality; it is fundamental way of existing for the Christian disciple. Now, Jesus asks us to go out to live the good news that we have heard throughout Lent and Easter. We do it with the nourishment of the Body of Christ, and the power of his Spirit.

Dear Family,
Summer must be here early because it is sure hot and humid. Obviously, summer didn’t get the memo about not coming until June 21st. At least perhaps we can stop the nonsense about denying climate change.

Another harbinger is trying to plan a vacation. Finally, I think today we got a holy man (or men) to care for your spiritual needs while I will be taking care of mine. That definitely falls under the heading of good news. When I have it confirmed I’ll tell you who it is; until then no way I’m going to jinx it. Too Irish, I guess...