There is so much we have experienced over the past weekend. We’ve celebrated the conversion of St. Paul, a great winter storm, another unfortunate shooting, Divine Word Sunday, and the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time—lots of great writing material. However, the snowstorm gave me time to catch up on some long-overdue phone calls, so I’m going with Ordinary Time!
As I was catching up with my friend Phil Scrimenti, we took a trip down memory lane, back to the week of service the Sisters provided for the Students from Allegheny College. The activities we experienced brought us to the topic of ordinary life. I think you would agree that most of us live an ordinary life, with the definition of ‘ordinary’ as ‘commonplace or unexceptional.’
The Church reminds us that during ordinary time, Jesus is always walking with us and is constantly transforming our lives. It’s a time for growth and maturation. We spend much more time within the ordinary time of the Church. How do we grow, mature, and create the extraordinary out of some ordinary thing? As we talked about the activities the student participated in, we found the ‘extraordinary’ in the ordinary.
There was laughter as the students engaged our infirm and retired sisters in an indoor snowball fight, board games, and just plain conversations with folks willing to listen to their stories. The opportunity to pack food at the Feed My Starving Children program (As well as beating the record for packing the most food in a designated amount of time!), sorting and packing clothing for those in need. Getting a chance to go to court and witness some cases involving families that were seeking asylum, and participating in Liturgy at Northwestern University. The time spent with our sisters sharing their family stories, and one of their favorite activities, shopping and buying ‘goodies’ for the cloistered Carmelites who are our neighbors in Des Plaines.
If you notice, none of these things are earth-shattering or being shouted from a mountain top. Nothing exceptional, and yet what joy and life-giving results for those they were with and for their own personal growth. Ordinary things were made ‘extraordinary’ because they were done with unassuming love. It’s the simple things that change our lives and help us grow in our faith life. This is the path to holiness, and it is a simple one. John 13:34 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.”
What ordinary things have you been doing that speak of self-transformation, of becoming more Christ-like? Like the college students’ experiences, we forget to bless these ordinary transformative moments. For me, I know that this week I need to see how I live my ordinary life in an extraordinary way.
What about you?
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
