Comments on: Monday, June 8, 2020 A New Ordinary?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:15:56 +0000

Thought provoking is usually a good thing. You helped me think more completely in your comment. I appreciate that! Blessings and prayers for you and your family.

Mary Ortwein

By: Skip

Skip — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:58:10 +0000

Mary, thank you very much for your kind explication. I really like bishop Fulton Sheen, he was wise and ahead of his times.
The “Mount to the Mount” is a perfect explication for me.
Thank you again for your response Mary. You warmed my heart and my feathers are no longer ruffled.
And without turning over more stones, I must say, I do miss our former (thought provoking) writer. He made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin – in a good way.
Nothing normal about Mary either, at times she’s incredible. ❤

By: Mary Ortwein

Mary Ortwein — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:47:31 +0000

This response is specific to some good thoughts that Skip brought up. I think your struggle is at the heart of both the struggles of our time and the struggle of Christ. When some great darkness, like the murder of one we love or a pandemic, comes into our lives, there is no new normal. There is a new place we are, but it isn’t “normal” or “ordinary.” There is only the grip of pain and the grip of God. As I read your comment, this from Bishop Fulton Sheen’s Life of Christ came to mind:

“Two mounts are related as the first and second acts in a two-act drama: the Mount of Beatitudes and the Mount of Calvary. He who climbed the first to preach the Beatitudes must necessarily climb the second to practice what He preached. The unthinking often say the Sermon on the Mount constitutes the “essence of Christianity.” But let any man put these Beatitudes into practice in his own life, and he too will draw down upon himself the wrath of the world. The Sermon on the Mount cannot be separated from His Crucifixion, any more than day can be separated from night. The day Our Lord taught the Beatitudes, He signed His own death warrant.” (p 145)
Mary Ortwein

By: Jenipher

Jenipher — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 09:42:29 +0000

Bless you. Thank you for a beautiful piece of scriptures. It is wonderful. I hope the readings at this week after Easter seasons reminds us we are in ordinary time and we should remember the drought after Easter blessing in our hearts and souls are manageable. Our duty is to move forward with our Lord Jesus and with his Holy Catholic Church. It is more than two months now am at home without receiving holy communion physically. You are luck because you have started going to church. There is so much pain when we do not practice what we normally practice but one thing keeps us stronger if we joing a live streaming. I enjoy very much and it is a history in life. Thank you all who take their time to prepare a piece of scriptures for us. God bless you.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 17:18:43 +0000

Mary, thank you so much for the wonderful words you give us to ponder on. I’m beginning to consider these days as special rather than dreadful. We can choose to accept the new circumstances, difficult though they be, as a time to acknowledge God in so many areas of our life where we didn’t see Him before, rather like we’ve been able to tune into nature more easily than before. I speak from a privileged and retired time of life and am restricted by our country’s (England) response to Covid because of my age. Attending Mass is not an option and yet I long to continue with trying to improve our parish sense of community and also feel that God is nudging us all to find ways of letting our spiritual lives blossom in new ways. Your final prayer is just right for me!

By: Skip

Skip — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 16:00:04 +0000

Mary, I feel compelled to comment on this “new normal” you and others have been saying. There is nothing “new” or “normal” about it.
Me and my wife lost a daughter in a murder almost 5 years ago. You tell me, what is “normal” about that?
It is sad a man unnecessarily lost his life in Minneapolis. From what I’ve read, he was no angel but I also heard he turned his life around before he was murdered, I hope that was the case. Where were the people protesting our daughter after she was murdered.
Jesus was “sacrificed” or I guess you can say “murdered”. What, no protesting? (Being a little sarcastic here, I do understand the times and atmosphere He lived in.
Onto the Sermon on the Mount. I have heard it told (and I tend to agree) that Jesus was “shouted down” at that Sermon and many left very angry with Jesus. What, this Chosen one of God is not here to crush the Roman’s and restore the Mosaic law – to be there new King and He speaks of turning the other cheek and to rejoice in suffering?
Many have got caught up in this new round of protesting. Nothing new about that. I’ve seen it many times before and I’ll probably see it again.
So, here we are in the middle of a pandemic and people are crowded together in the streets protesting yet we are called to social distance at Church. Wow, what’s wrong with that picture? I know, we Catholics and Christians are doing what is asked of us to do and that’s a good thing.
Also, a pandemic is nothing new and really nothing out of the normal when you look at history. Now, how people are reacting to this pandemic I would say is not normal but given our culture today, it does not surprise me.
One last thing. A former writer here was shouted down for something he wrote that didn’t sit well with the readers and this thread’s administrator. Personally, I think what he had to say was not without merit.
Peace be with all of you.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:51:35 +0000

Thank you for sharing your insights. I consider them a blessing every Monday morning from California. Take care and congratulations to the church for opening up.

By: Barb G

Barb G — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:07:23 +0000

Thank you Mary for today’s reflection on the beatitudes. It helped with my understanding of the . Also you are not alone in the wearing of ugly shoes . I to have to wear orthodox in my shoes. We are blessed!