Being Ordinary

The current liturgical season for the Church is ordinary time. If you think about it there is an enormous good to being ordinary. Our secular society places so much emphasis on being extraordinary that there is a syndrome known as "15 minutes of fame". The truth of the matter is this: there is nothing easy about being ordinary. That is to say to live your life as Christ wants you to; dying oneself, being a servant to others, to make your life not about you. Try it some time. The Blessed Mother is the example of a person who lived the life we want to emulate. She was obedient to God's will from the very point that she was asked. In ordinary time we are not anticipating the birth of Christ as we do in Advent. We are not celebrating the Savior entering the world as in Christmastime, we are not in deep prayer, penance and spiritual reflection as in Lent, or suffering with Jesus on His walk to Calvary. We are not singing Alleluia as we witness the Risen Christ. We are rather enjoying the ordinary things of life; like that walk in the park, shopping with friends, having an ice cream, going to the ballgame, etc.. At the same time applying our spiritual lessons to the way we deal with all the ordinary things that happen to us all but call us to be courageous, patient, and to endure. Those ordinary things are hardships of life such as death, illness, financial troubles, broken relationships. They require that we be united with Christ who truly is extraordinary, that we may be strengthened with His grace and throughout out our pain, give witness to God's love and give glory to Him.