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February 03, 2010
> 10:20 AM
re-thoughts on prayer and liturgy > 4 Since we are... back in Ordinary Time at the moment - here's another post I wrote in 2008, talking about a liturgical spirituality based in the ordinary. I re-read this just a few minutes ago and I say, it is good. There are, for some perhaps, a couple of radical suggestions toward the end. I'm still 110% with those. Good stuff - regular rhythm of everyday life - love and not fear - Peace to you. -------------------------------------------------- Back to Ordinary (from 01/14/2008)  Back to the brown book, back to Ordinary Time. I'm pretty sure this is my favorite liturgical season. I'm not sure it's considered a "season," per se, but it's my favorite time block on the calendar. Weird, you say? Maybe. I think I just prefer the regular rhythm of everyday life as opposed to the somewhat intense focus on a particular event or Truth in the life of Christ and the Church.I don't mean to say that I don't appreciate the celebration of say, Lent or Advent or Christmas or Easter. I think we need those constant reminders interrupting the rhythm of our lives. Over and over, year after year, to live that in and out, up and down of the calendar is good. I believe that. I wonder, though, if sometimes we don't get a little carried away with the celebrations such that they become things that we wait for during Ordinary Time, just tolerating things until November or February. I've heard some people say they wish we'd back Advent up into October to make it longer. Mmmmmmm, I don't think I'd be in favor of that. If anything, make it shorter. I don't think it's the healthiest thing to live our lives waiting for big, spectacular events. If we can't "feel spiritual" or close to God during the ordinary part of the year, we have some problems. And nobody's asking for my vote, but strip out all the "obligation" attached to any of these feast days, and to any fasting or abstinence attached to them. That is not to say there shouldn't be an encouragement to do certain things or to gather with the whole Church to worship at certain times. Certainly there should be, but attaching an ultimate penalty to these things is counter-productive to real spiritual development. Yes, I really do think so. Would you rather your children obey your rules out of love and respect or from fear of being punished - and not just punished but kicked out of the freakin' house? I hope our answer would be, love. And fear does not produce love. I don't think so. Anyway, we should all develop a rhythm to our spiritual lives that is solidly entrenched in Ordinary Time. The special seasons should be pleasant interruptions in an already solid rhythm of life focused on our Life in Christ. Christmas is wonderful, and waiting for it in Advent is great, but the now is that Christ is alive, as God and Man, and living in us. Easter is amazing and the relative darkness of Lent is a helpful thing, but now, He lives forever in eternity and is constantly inviting us into His present Life. Let's do what we can to constantly be hearing that invitation and saying yes to it. Labels: church year, liturgy, re-post 5 Comments:fwiw, I think you're absolutely spot on. Take away the obligation, indeed, for simply "following the rules" does not spiritual progress make. By This is an awkward comment. I'm holding on to a thought that I'm not allowed to be frustrated with or hold resentment against liturgical decisions of the church, but especially during Advent/Christmas, I do resent being pulled out of the rhythm of the readings. I struggle nearly every day given to a Saint between obedience to the calendar and a personal desire to remain in the ordinary. Hey man, I need the rules! Without them, I wouldn't do jack. I would choose to Love God from the comfort of my couch while playing xbox 75% of Sunday mornings. By Having rules are fine, Chad - being told we should do or ought to do this or that. Fine. But you don't need to be told that the Life of God will be ripped from your bosom if you don't go to Mass on Sunday. The fear motivation really shouldn't be what drives us in the spiritual life. Amen! Amen! Well said, Alan. By  
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