The Blessed Scandal of the Ordinary
Carla Mae Streeter, OP
The blessed Feast of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) has been celebrated. The spectacular feasts of Pentecost, and Trinity too are behind us now. We are plunged into Ordinary Time, and summer comes upon us quietly with rain showers and the silent blooming of lilacs. The Friday and Saturday after Corpus Christi bring us the feasts of two hearts: the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary – a fitting entrance into the scandal of “ordinariness.”
The heart is the center of the human person. Where your heart is, there is your treasure, goes the old saying. So where is Jesus’ heart, where is Mary’s heart? They are love-centered. These two human beings are caught up in a compassionate love. We are given them to show us where the Pentecostal fire resides. It resides in our hearts, unless we douse it with the dampness of unforgiveness, complaining, or blaming. We need to keep company with these two, whose hearts are kindled with Spirit-fire.
This is the secret behind the scandal of “ordinariness.” Our lives sometimes seem so “ho-hum.” Nothing special, just the day-to-day tasks: taking a shower, laundry, a drive to the doctor’s, supper with friends, shopping, listening to the news, (and getting depressed at its emphasis on human failure and selfishness!).
What’s to do? What’s to do is to reflect on the ordinariness of the lives of Jesus’ and Mary’s “hidden” lives. In fact, so
“ordinary” that there is nothing whatsoever written about them. Silence. But these hidden lives were full of common events, just as ours are. This is the quiet hiddenness where love grows. Like the flowers and veggies coming up in our gardens, there is that little green thing, then the bush, then...wonder of wonders! ...flowers and fruit! All of it drawn from “sonning” and coming forth in inconspicuous silence. So, take heart...put your heart and your baptismal presence into the shopping, the trip to the post office, the phone call. Smile your love into whatever your day calls on you to do. Put your “heart” into it, and may
the garden of your soul be fragrant and fruitful in the dull days of ordinary time.
Most merciful Heart of Jesus,
Make our hearts like unto your own.
Model our hearts after that of your Mother,
Who lived her days in quiet obscurity,
Yet helped you redeem the world; here I am...me too!
Amen.
Special thanks to Carol Wester, OP, for these reflections
June 5 — 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kings 17:17-24 — Galatians 1:1-19 — Luke 7:11-17
An extraordinary day of compassion in ordinary time. Today we are told the stories of Elijah and Jesus
and how they showed extraordinary compassion to the widows of Zarephath and Naim. As I watched
the news last week, I heard the story of extraordinary compassion of a fourth-grade teacher, a mother of
three, who donated a kidney to an ailing first-grader in her school. She saw the suffering of the child and was
moved with compassion to act and do what she could, even though she exposed herself to considerable
risk. Where else do I see extraordinary examples of compassion in our ailing world? There is nothing
ordinary about this ordinary time!
June 12 — 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time — 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 — Luke 7:36-8:3
An extraordinary day of forgiveness in ordinary time. Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against
God.” Nathan answered David: “Yes, but that’s not the last word. God forgives your sin.” When the town
harlot washed Jesus’s feet with her tears after Simon, his host, had not ministered to him, Jesus said: “She
was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude
is minimal.” Just as Nathan and Jesus saw the hearts of the sinners and spoke words of forgiveness, are we not inspired to put aside rash judgments, accusatory thoughts, and mercifully look into the heart of the other? There is nothing ordinary about this ordinary time!
June 19 — 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time — Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1 Galatians 3:26-29 — Luke: 9-18-24
An extraordinary day of invitation in ordinary time. “But who do YOU say I am?” We are invited to
respond to this question, not because Jesus needs to hear how great he is, but because he wants to make
sure we know that following him will not be easy. He tells us what we can expect for ourselves. “Anyone
who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from
suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.” The popular expression—WWJD—what would
Jesus do—can be the motivating impetus of all that we do. There is nothing ordinary about this ordinary time!
June 26 — 13th Sunday of Ordinary time — 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Galatians 5:1, 13-18 — Luke 9:51-62
An extraordinary day of freedom in ordinary time. Paul tells the Galatians: “It is absolutely clear that God
has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you do not use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever
you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Elisha
and Paul were invited by God to follow him; so are we. We are invited to be free, not to be slaves to
anything or to anyone. We are invited into a radical trust, making us as free as Jesus was with no place to
rest his head. In this place, in this time, I have been given the freedom and opportunity to be of service to
others. What an extraordinary gift! There is nothing ordinary about this ordinary time.
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