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Anything but Ordinary

A grace-filled time of the year

Posted by Lisa Hendey in Faith on Thursday, January 26, 2012 12:00 PM

Recently, I was chatting with a friend who told me that she was headed home to take down her Christmas tree. She hated doing it, she shared. I congratulated her on truly understanding and appreciating our liturgical calendar, chiding myself for the fact that my tree was down and put away shortly after New Years.

But the truth of the matter is this: the older I get, the more I find myself appreciating “Ordinary Time”. It used to be that the sign of green liturgical vestments and the absence of the nativity scene in our parish filled me with a wistful sadness. Now, it seems I almost crave the still quiet days of January and February. Looking at this year in particular, my Ordinary Time mornings have been filled with some very fruitful prayer time. I can always do more, and do better, but this year I’m noticing a sense of serenity that has been absent in previous winter seasons. Much of that could have to do with a slightly modified workload and a better attitude in general. But a great deal of it has to do with embracing the messages of the gospel readings we have each day, of journeying with the saints whose lives we celebrate during these months, and of spending time pondering the many simple blessings that fill my days.

How about you? Do you find Ordinary Time a bit of a liturgical let down? Are you pining for the start of Lent? What keeps you motivated during these shorter days and longer periods of darkness to seek the light of Christ in your own life and to share Him with others?

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6
Filed under liturgical calendar, ordinary time, prayer

Comments

Page 1 of 1 pages

 
Posted by Patricia on Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 1:36 PM (EDT):

In the Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic tradition, the Sunday of Zacchaeus (Jan. 22) ushers in the point in the liturgical year where we begin to prepare for Great Lent.  The story of Zacchaeus teaches us that we should turn away from sin. In this way, our Lenten journey begins with a recognition of our sinfulness, just as Zacchaeus recognized his sins.

Before the beginning of Great Lent (in the Eastern Catholic tradition, the Holy 40 Days Fast beings on Feb. 20, 2 days prior to Ash Wednesday), there are several Feast Days that are anything but ordinary & which point us to the coming glory of Pascha (Easter).  Following the Sunday of Zacchaeus, we have: The Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers & Hierarchs (honoring Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom), The Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee (whose prayer inspired the much-loved Jesus Prayer, or Prayer of the Heart, in the Christian East), The Encounter of Our Lord With Simeon & Anna (Presentation in the Temple, where candles are blessed to be used in the home), The Sunday of the Prodigal Son, The First All Souls Saturday (to offer our prayers & ask God’s mercy for the deceased), The Sunday of the Second Coming of Christ (also known as Meat-Fare, where meat products are given up for the Fast), Forgiveness Sunday (also known as Cheese-Fare, where dairy is given up for the Fast—this day also has a beautiful & moving Forgiveness Vespers)...which leads us up to the beginning of the Holy 40 Days Fast on Feb. 20.

 
Posted by Mama Toad on Friday, Jan 27, 2012 4:34 PM (EDT):

That is so beautiful.. Can you explain more about the Cheese Fast? Do you mean that it begins on a Sunday in Lent? So it is not all 40 Days? Do you have a link to find out more? Thanks in advance!

 
Posted by Daria Sockey on Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 4:24 PM (EDT):

I’m with “you, Lisa, I like what seems to be liturgical fallow time. I recently wrote about that on my own blog. But recently I read—I think on Fr. Z’s blog—that in Latin, the meaning of “ordinary” has nothing to do with being usual, routine, or uneventful. It just means that the Sundays and weeks are “ordered”, with the numbers 1 to 34. Be that as it may, the short and long stretches of ordinary time do feel more routine and restful for mothers who implement lots of family customs during the holy seasons.

 
Posted by Claire on Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 4:30 PM (EDT):

I don’t mind ordinary time, but it is a letdown to put away the Christmas decorations, just because I miss the festivity of it.

 
Posted by Monique on Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 5:29 PM (EDT):

I don’t think that I feel so much of a “letdown” after the Christmas season (partly I think because we don’t have tv in our house so we avoid a lot of the hype that I think contributes).  But we also focus a lot on individual feast days and prepare ourselves for Lent (we try to do a lot more spiritual reading). That said, I do think that we are definitely ready to get back into the normal swing of school and work after vacations because it helps our days feel more productive when we’re back on schedule!

 
Posted by Susie on Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 8:26 PM (EDT):

I still have my manger set up until the Feast of the Presentation in February.  I just can’t take it down since the Wise Men have barely made it to the scene!    That said, we still use this Carnivale time for more feasting (my daughter’s birthday, football, family get together’s etc) that go along with the heavier winter food of stews, soups etc.


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