We can return to a more natural, ordinary way of living by noticing every blessing and gift in our lives
The section of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians we hear on the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that it is good to live the full spectrum of life. It isn’t good to live in isolation from difficulties, nor is it good to live in isolation from joys and blessings. Living an ordinary life in ordinary circumstances gives us the full spectrum of the gift of life that God has given us. Living an ordinary life prepares us for all the gifts and blessings. We need to do what God asks. But how do we shield ourselves from living an ordinary life that robs us of the formation we need to live fully?
In the midst of an ordinary day or week, we each experience ups and downs, joys and sorrows, blessings and curses. They are not curses from God or special treats from God, but part of human existence given to us because of God’s gift of life. We hear in Scripture that death and suffering were not part of God’s original plan. The idyllic setting of the garden of Eden is meant to give us a sense of God’s original plan. We are reminded that in the fulfillment of God’s kingdom, there will be no more tears, death or suffering. In the meantime, all of those things happen in our lives. How are we learning to live fully in each moment of our lives, without trying to escape through our favorite numbing activities?
Although death and suffering were not a part of God’s original plan, they are a part of our lives now. They are not curses or a payback for what we did or didn’t do. We live with the consequences of our choices, and we are affected by the choices of others. Embracing any difficulty or suffering that comes into our lives offers a unique opportunity to grow in compassion and in our connection with other human beings. Any well-embraced suffering yields compassion toward others. Even though we can never know exactly how the suffering of others feels, we can let others know we have suffered as well and understand the pain of suffering. We can be one with them in the sorrow, even though our suffering is unique. Instead of trying to numb or escape any inconvenience or suffering, notice the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of discomfort we have this coming week. Can we let ourselves feel it? Can we feel the pain, the isolation, the temptation toward despair, the feeling of abandonment and the wonder of whether God is present at all? Can we allow others to be with us in these times of pain?
Fullness of life is what most of us are used to living every day. We have all of our needs met. We have little or no inconvenience in our lives. Such abundance can lead us to believe we are entitled not just to having our needs met, but also to having our wants fulfilled. Living in the midst of entitlement and privilege cuts us off from the ability to be deeply grateful. We can return to a more natural, ordinary way of living by noticing every blessing and gift in our lives, even the ones we take for granted or believe are our due. It usually only takes a couple of hours, if we can stick with it, to become aware of how deeply blessed we are. While the rest of the world is hungry, we are not. Many in the world wish for safe shelter, safe drinking water, healthcare, food to eat and clothes to wear; we have all of these. Be conscious of each gift. Pause, be grateful to the source of all good and watch what happens to our hearts. Our hearts will reawaken in generosity and in connection with all of God’s creation. Our hearts will experience, in even deeper ways, the love God has for us.
