A few weeks ago as we were getting ready for Mass, Jim asked, “What color is ordinary time?” This is a man who attended 12 years of Catholic schools and has probably missed less Sunday Masses in his lifetime than he has fingers. Obviously, detail is not his strong suit.
“Green,” I said.
“Okay, do I have a green tie?”
“I didn’t say it was St. Patrick’s Day,” I said, all the while knowing the true purpose of that question. You see, this is also the same man who insisted he needed a dark purple sweater to wear during Advent. (Sometimes I wonder if he missed his calling.) At least the purple will double for Lent.
After he found a quasi-green tie (no Irish in his background), I said, “You do realize that there are approximately 33 Sundays of ordinary time. You may need more than one tie.”
Yes, the church is back in ordinary time, that time when nothing special appears to be happening. We just wait; wait for Lent, then Easter, then Pentecost – and then green again. Pondering on that concept of ordinary time a few weeks ago, I realized that for most of us, the Church cycle parallels our own lives.
As children, we eagerly anticipated the notable yearly holidays: Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, birthdays and possibly others depending on our family traditions. We also celebrated our first Reconciliation, First Communion, and hopefully, Confirmation.
As adults, many of us experienced the sacrament of Marriage and a few Holy Orders. These are extraordinary moments in our otherwise routine lives. When we were young, most of us were impatient for momentous times to arrive. The days leading up to the event passed at a snail’s pace while the anticipated event flashed by in fast forward time. Life quickly returned to the mundane.
Parents expecting their first child are eager for the arrival long before the babe’s predicted debut. The infant can’t arrive soon enough. However, with a few weeks of sleepless nights and countless diapers changes and feedings, some of the sheen wears off, if only temporarily.
The same happens for those newlyweds. When the gown and tux are cleaned or returned, the wedding cake is eaten, the last song is played and the honeymoon is over, most couples return to (yes, you guessed it) ordinary times. Bills need to be paid, laundry and dishes cleaned, and someone has to grocery shop.
Let’s face it. Life, for the most part, is full of unexceptional moments. That is not necessarily negative. After the crowds clear out at Thanksgiving or Christmas, most of us say, “Oh, it will be nice to get back to normal.” Why then do we feel restless and unsettled on these gray, bleak February days or the endless humid days of August?
Perhaps, it is because we have been misled by our modern world. Look at the ads and programs on TV, the internet or even social media. What promises do they make? An endless stream of excitement, romance and entertainment. Those false promises often leave us feeling empty and disappointed. That is why it is important to acknowledge that no one’s life is without difficulties or doldrums.
As Philip Keller stated in his book “Lessons from a Sheep Dog,” “Such times of apparent inaction…are tough and trying times,” when we may want to break faith and quit. The Feast of the Presentation is a good reminder of what is required when the life we imagined is not materializing. Consider Simeon and Anna. Both were in their final years, yet neither lost hope in God’s promise that they would meet the Savior before their death. Therefore, they remained steadfast in their faith, praying continuously, praising God and visiting the Temple. For their dedication, they were eventually rewarded.
Their ordinary lives provide us with a stellar example to imitate during our routine days. Simeon and Anna remind us to cheerfully fulfill our daily tasks while also staying faithful to our prayer life. Choosing their course of action promises us many blessings such as enduring friendships, long-lasting marriages, and mature, adult children who will hopefully repeat the cycle. By reevaluating our expectations, we may suddenly understand that what once seemed simply ordinary evolved into something truly extraordinary. I think I need a green sweater, too.