Grace in the Everyday

On Sunday night, we celebrated the great feast of Pentecost, that sending of the Spirit upon the Church and upon each one of us.

It's that sending of the Spirit that made possible our Baptism and our ability to live as saints and development in this life, and sharing in the life of saints and eternal life. The Easter candle has been put out and we're back to wearing green vestments.

We're in Ordinary Time, sisters and brothers, and this week is a great week for us to begin that reflection of ordinariness in our lives. It may feel like we've already entered the dog days of summer with heat and rain and all of the things that make up our summer experience. But part of that summer experience is life slowing down and being quiet every day.

So for us, this is a chance for us to realize that the grace of the Holy Spirit—given to the Church, given to the world, given to us—is present even in the most ordinary moments of our lives. Whether it's ironing clothes, washing dishes, feeding the baby, or driving to the store, the Holy Spirit is with us, calling us to life and to joy in these most ordinary days.