Ordinary Time

Now is the time, if we haven't already done so, we put Christmas away for another year.  Some might like to continue on till February 2nd as we did in the old liturgical calendar, but today is officially the first Monday in Ordinary Time.  This is a period when we focus on the nuts and bolts of discipleship, continuing the ever-on-going task of repentence, conversion, turning to the Lord and living according to his teachings.  We attempt to take seriously his invitation to "Come, follow me.".  This year, we have only four weeks before Ash Wednesday on February 13th, and if that isn't enough of a shocker, Easter is on March 31st!  Early for donning the Easter Bonnet, and moving up Ascenion Thursday and Pentecost to May 9th and 19th respectively.  The life of a Christian is serious business, leaving no room nor time for complacency.  So, to work we go, perhaps taking a hint from the term "ordinary time", and trying like St. Marcellin and other favorite saints, not to go off and convert every infidel on the earth, but rather within our circles and daily routines, to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.  So many times in our ordinary dealings with others,  we inadvertantly offend someone by NOT responding to something they say or post on facebook, a photo, for example.  Yes, we have so many communications now...e-mail, facebook, etc., it's hard to pay attention to them daily, but it's amazing how sensitive some people are about hearing or not hearing a response.  Or even in ordinary conversation, we often don't listen to what people are saying and just blurt ahead with our own script.  Apologies may rectifiy the offense, but also help us become more aware of our insensitivity and help us avoid them in the future. May we proceed with confidence into Ordinary Time, knowing that God abounds in extraordinary love and forgiveness.
Bro. Rene