Grief in Ordinary Times

Today, we delve into beautiful Psalm 63, interpreting our longing for God in times of sorrow.  Drawing wisdom from Genesis and teachings from the Prophet Hosea, we explore God’s unending love and sense of forever.

In "ordinary time", while we grapple with our grief, amidst our daily lives, we realize how grief is an ordinary part of our existence.   Be it the loss of a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend, the experience is distinctively profound.  Join us in a safe space for you to understand and accept your emotions.  Remember the comforting truth that our loved ones are now enveloped by a loving presence beyond our understanding.

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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WHILE GRIEVING IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE

You can reach us at: ccoutreach@dsj.org
To arrange personal spiritual direction:  408-359-5542


Our theme music is:  Gentle Breeze by Yeti Music from the album "Uppbeat".
Additional Music today by:   via Pixabay

Transcript

Candee Lucas: 0:22

Welcome to Solace Soul + Grief. I'm your host, Candee Lucas. We, Catholic Cemeteries know that the loss of a loved one has a profound effect on our lives and we would like to help you deepen your faith, pay attention to where God is moving in your life as you grieve, and call upon the love of God to accompany you. Each week we take a different text or scripture or poem, or maybe an idea from the Holy Spirit, and we use that idea or poem or song to help us reflect more deeply on our grief and God's place in our life and God's place next to us as we grieve. Please remember you're always welcome in our circle of healing, love and support.

Candee Lucas: 1:27

If you are a Catholic, the phrase "Ordinary Time has a special meaning. Christmas time and Easter time highlight the central mysteries of the Paschal mystery, namely the incarnation, death on the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time, on the other hand, take us through the life of Christ. This is a time of conversion. This is living the life of Christ. Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. The goal toward which all of history is directed is represented by the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, the solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. So says the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Candee Lucas: 2:42

But to many people, ordinary time has a very different meaning. It means our daily lives. The hums and the drums, the rhythms, the things we do daily to make it through one more day in our life as we grieve. For most days are ordinary, but when you're grieving and you stop to notice, almost every day is extraordinary. You are going through your daily life, your daily tasks of living without the person you love most. Perhaps you are looking up at the familiar breakfast table to a blank space instead of a warm face, instead of a welcoming face. You are enjoying the sun in your garden by yourself. Nothing in your grief has changed God's love for you, nor God's love for your missing loved one. The love is what's left, it's the imprint on your heart and it's what we treasure most.

Candee Lucas: 4:34

As time passes and we come to realize that grief is ordinary. It's different for every person. It's different if we've lost more than one loved one. Our grief for a missing husband or wife is quite different than the grief for a missing father or mother, sister or brother. We know so many things affect the way we grieve about a particular person-- the manner of their death, the mood in the family as the death occurred, whether we felt close or near or far from our God, whether we felt close or near to the person we lost. So we take this ordinary grief in ordinary time and think about how it's made a bookmark in our lives, both of sadness, of profound love and mercy, because we know we are so loved by God. God offers us a sense of foreverness when he speaks to Noah in Genesis, Chapter 8, Verse 22. "As long as the earth lasts, as long as the earth lasts, seed, time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter and day and night shall not cease. And he guarantees his love for us through the prophet Hosea In chapter 11,.

Candee Lucas: 6:51

"When you were a child, I loved you. Out of Egypt, I called you my son. The more I called you, the farther you went from me, sacrificing to the balls and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught you to walk, who took you in my arms. I drew you with human cords with bands of love. I fostered you like one who raises an infant to his cheeks. Yet, though I stooped to feed you, you did not know that I was your healer."

Candee Lucas: 7:41

Think about that phrase-- "I fell in love with you when you were a child. What does that feel like to hear God say that to you, that the moment he saw and realized you, you were fully and completely loved, without end, without qualification, with mercy and compassion for all of your life? You, on the other hand, came to love God and, as it is written in Psalm 63, you praised him-- Oh God, you are my God.

Candee Lucas: 8:42

For you, I long for you. My body yearns for you. My soul thirsts like a land, parched, lifeless and without water. So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory, for your love is better than life. My lips offer you worship. I will bless you as long as you live. I will lift up my hands calling on your name. My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise With joyous lips. My mouth shall honor you when I think of you. Upon my bed, through the night watches, I will recall that you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings. I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to yours. My soul clings fast to you. Your right hand upholds me.

Candee Lucas: 9:54

On one hand, love is offered. On the other hand, love is received and reciprocated, and we spend our lifetimes searching for him, searching for his open arms, longing for the day we can be back in them. For this is truly what our loved ones experienced when they left this earth. They were welcomed by a loving presence larger and more profound, and more authentic and more real than we can imagine. Reality. This is the backdrop of our grief. This is our belief that God's name is love and love's name is God. That brings to a close another episode. I'm Candee Lucas, your host, Aftercare Coordinator for Catholic Cemeteries in San Jose, Chaplain and Spiritual Director. Please support us by subscribing on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Music or Spotify. You can contact us through the telephone number or email on the show notes. We always welcome your comments and suggestions for future episodes. Spiritual direction is always available for those who are grieving through Catholic Cemeteries. Be gentle with yourselves. Travel with God. Vaya con Dios.