Embrace the Ordinary, vol. 9 2020
I begrudgingly made the decision for our family to stay home from Mass on this past weekend.
No one had or has any symptoms of that “C-word”. But due to challenging circumstances, someone was tested, positive. 😷😵😖 And so I kept us home.
You might be home from Mass for similar reasons. Or you might be home because your diocese isn’t opening churches (I am so sad about this issue). side note: If any priests from my diocese happen to read this: I THANK YOU for your dedication to the sacraments and keeping our churches open. It’s not lost on me what a gift this is.
You might be home for other reasons, discerned between you and God.
But Sunday is *still* meant to be holy. To be a sacred pause for rest and connection with the Lord. No matter if you are homebound or able to attend Mass in person, no matter if you are an essential healthcare worker, first responder, active duty, or some other line of work requires your presence on Sunday, that day is always for the Lord. He knows our circumstances, of course. Even with our circumstances accounted for, I think we can do something to set Sunday apart.
Do you struggle with making that “set-apartness” reality for yourself and your kids? I do. My kids showed up in sweats and struggled to sit still. 😖 Yes, I do “give them grace”, but we’ve been going to Mass every Sunday (aside from the shutdown) for years. They know how to sit respectfully, so I expect it from them during prayer time at home just as we do in the church.
I’d like to offer some thoughts for that pursuit of sacredness at home: What if we set aside a few minutes for personal Scripture reading and prayer on Sundays? What if we sit with our children to pray through the week, and grow in the habit together?
I’ve been taking extra time on Sundays for Scripture and journaling. It’s not a new habit; I’ve been doing this almost weekly for a few years. Sometimes I’m interrupted, and it can be a challenge to overcome my frustration with that. I try to remember that seeing me take time for prayer is a good example for my kids, even it them waking early means my time is cut short.
This Advent, my boys and I are setting aside some time–just 5-10 minutes a day. They don’t always share what they thought of the reading or what they journaled (if they write), but we spend the time and I trust God is working in their hearts and mine.
The journal I wrote to bring to Adoration can also be used at home. I also have printable pages that you can use and pray with, alongside your child.
No matter what you choose for your prayer time, I encourage you to keep trying. Ask the Lord to give you time when you feel overwhelmed, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to make the day(s) sacred.
