By Reverend Katherine Elsner
As I mentioned at the beginning of mass today, these weeks in the Catholic church are known as Ordinary Time.
The word “ordinary” can convey a negative meaning, such as “she or he is just ordinary”, as if that person has nothing noteworthy about him or her. Another comment: “I’m just doing my ordinary work”, as if this part of our life is not very important.
So, I’m not sharing anything new when I say that ordinary life is very important. It can be a restful as well as a fruitful time.
A brief comment about the three writers of today’s scripture: In the 1st reading, Isaiah talked about his ordinary life.
One line I don’t remember hearing before which I like is “God put me to work from the day I was born”.
I think some of us could say this is true about ourselves.
In this reading, Isaiah reminded the Israelites that they were to be witnesses to all the nations of the world, a pretty big responsibility.
In the 2nd reading, Paul spoke to his calling, because Paul believed he was sent to testify to the message of Jesus throughout the world. Another big responsibility!
He told the people in Corinth that they were called to be a holy people with all those everywhere who call on the name of Jesus.
Lastly in our 3rd reading, the gospel writer John portrays John the Baptist as a witness, a witness to testify to the person of Jesus.
The Baptist further testified to Jesus when he said that the Holy Spirit descended and rested over Jesus.
What ties all of these readings together?
Each person believed that they were called by God.
Like Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist, God has called each of us during our lives to be who we are today. As Isaiah said it, God called each of us & put us to work from the day we were born. We did not get to be who we are now in an instant.
We arrived at this point in our lives by what we have chosen, or not chosen, and continue to choose to do every day and in every moment. Our actions, our words, our relationships with others have shaped us into human beings who continue to respond to God’s call. We freely choose to announce God’s justice, kindness, peace and so much more through our words and actions each day.
If God communicated with Isaiah, Paul and John, (both John’s) and so many others, do we really believe that God can and does communicate directly with us for the purpose of pointing out the way that Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit is working all around us, and working even through us?
We experienced God communicating with HF in December through Hilda, the social worker who came to our food pantry to get food for three women who had little food and no way to cook their food. Holy Family purchased a microwave for the three women.
We then saw God working through Hilda again when she brought Troy with her to carry the microwave, and Troy asked us if we could help him and several others who are striving to recover after spending years in prison.
HF bought presents for six men who requested only basic necessities of life for their gifts.
Yes, God called us, and HF responded once again by providing for the ordinary needs of these six men.
These two examples are probably rather bold or obvious examples of God comminating with us.
What about the rest of the time? The rest of the time is ordinary, though no less important. Each time we experience God calling us changes an ongoing movement in our heart
from just driving down the street when we see someone begging, and it reminds us that people go hungry in our city, and in our world. God may speak to us while doing dishes when we realize that hot water comes out of our faucets with only a touch of our hands, while we know of others who suffer when wells go dry in isolated villages. God may speak to our hearts when we turn on our TV/laptop/phone, and we are reminded that people live with no electricity in desolate places or in war zones in cities.
Let’s pause for a moment and try to think of an example about ourselves.
**Try to recall an ordinary moment
when you realized something deeper in your heart that went beyond the ordinary action you were doing. P AU S E
Anyone think of something? Anyone want to share?
(quite a few shared a personal experience)
Yes, God speaks to us day by day in ordinary ways to do what we can, wherever we can, in ordinary ways.
This year is still very new and there continues to be ever more questions than a year ago in our country & our world.
We look at the days and months ahead and wonder how those still suffering will get help, how those in war zones will ever experience peace, how strife in our country will ever heal, how poverty & homelessness in Springfield & beyond will be addressed.
During ordinary time in the Catholic church and in our ordinary daily lives, let us keep in mind that God has not and will not abandon us. The light that led the Magi continues to guide us day by day.
Today’s scripture from Isaiah urges us to be the light to the nations. Paul’s testimony about Jesus, lets us know that through our baptism we have been richly endowed with speech and knowledge to share with others.
John the gospel writer reminds us that John the Baptist testified that Jesus came from God, and that we too continue to follow the example of Jesus by what we say and do every day.
Yes, the light of God has come to rest upon us, both as a community of faith at HF, and as individuals who witnessto the light of Jesus in our ordinary lives, day by day.
And lastly, as the Holy Spirit came to rest upon Jesus, she also rests upon each of us.
Amen Holy Family !