An Anything [But] Ordinary 2025 (the “missing” Sunday post) March 2, 2025

“Ramadān Mubarak, Blessed Ramaḍān!” to anyone observing the holy month of Ramaḍān. Many blessings to all, and especially to those celebrating and/or observing the Baháʼí 19-Day Fast, Shrove/Cheesefare/Forgiveness/Transfiguration Sunday and/or Carnival on National Read Across America Day!

Peace, ease, and praising to all, throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!

This is the “missing” post for Sunday, March 2^nd. It includes some previously posted information (updated for 2025) and embedded links to related posts. You can request a recording of the related practice(s) via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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“On why it’s called Ordinary Time, [Father James] Kubicki explained, ‘I’ll be honest, I think it’s a bad translation. It comes from the Latin word “ordo” which means numbered or numbers. So basically what it’s saying is that this is numbered time.’”

“‘Well, when the calendar was changed and transformed, those were dropped, and instead we were given what was called numbered time, or ordered time,’ Fr. Kubicki said. ‘Unfortunately the translation comes out as Ordinary Time. As though Christmas, Easter, Advent, and Lent are extraordinary time and this is just plain, old ordinary. Same old, same old time. That’s not the intent at all.’”

— quoted from the January 12, 2021 Relevant Radio® article entitled “Finding Grace in Ordinary Time” by Stephanie Foley 

For some people, there was nothing special about today.

I mean, every day is special and any day that you are praised or can sing the praises of someone or something is special. But, for some this day is just like any other date on the calendar.

Oh, sure, maybe you know that today is National Read Across America Day —  which is celebrated annually on the anniversary of the birth of Theodor (Ted) Geisel, also known as “Dr. Seuss” (b. 1904) — and the beginning of National Read Across America Week). Or, maybe you were one of those people excited about the Academy Awards… or catching up on the news from yesterday’s Brit Awards… or something related.

But, unless you mark some personal special occasion on March 3^rd — there was nothing extra special about today.

It was just an ordinary… regular Sunday… on the Gregorian calendar.

Of course, not everyone uses the Gregorian calendar. So, for some people today (Sunday) was the second day of the Baháʼí 19-Day Fast and/or the holy month of Ramaḍān. In both cases, there are millions or billions of people cultivating deeper and more resilient spiritual/religious bonds with God (whatever that means to you at this moment) and preparing for a new season of peace. Simultaneously, billions more are cultivating and preparing for the same, in their own way.

A variation of the following was previously posted in 2021 & 2023. This version is updated for 2025.

“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.”

— The Gospel According to St. Luke (18:31, NIV)

For some Western Christians, the fact that today was a “Regular” or “Ordinary” day means it is outside specifically designated periods of liturgy. For some, today is specifically referenced as Quinquagesima, as it is 50 days before Easter (including the Sundays, which are excluded when counting the 40 Days of Lent).¹ For others, within Western Christian traditions, today is Shrove Sunday (which, in some traditions is also Transfiguration Sunday). Still others, specifically some Catholics who use the Latin Psalters, observe today as Estomihi, which comes from the opening lines of many services on this day: “Inclina ad me aurem tuam, accelera ut eruas me. Esto mihi in Deum protectorem: et in domum refugii, ut salvum me facias.” (“Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation.”)

Keep in mind that these are all “moveable feasts”, meaning their dates on the secular calendar change depending on the date of Easter each year. Also keep in mind that the Western and Eastern/Orthodox Churches have different calendars — and not all Orthodox communities share the same liturgical schedule. In 2025, however, these last days of Shrovetide (which include Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday) overlap in the Western and Eastern/Orthodox Christian traditions.

Just as people start preparations for the Lenten season at different times, people have different ways of getting ready. Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations are opportunities for people to indulge in the things they plan to give up, as the Lenten season is a period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter. Whether fasting or feasting, there is a symbolic association with food. In the Eastern Orthodox traditions, especially in Slavic countries, the last week before Lent/Great Lent is known as Maslenitsa (Belarusian: Масленіца, Russian: Мaсленица, Rusyn: Пущаня, Ukrainian: Маслянаas) or Butter Lady, Butter Week, Crepe Week, or Cheesefare Week. Meaning today, this last Sunday before Great Lent, is also known as Cheesefare Sunday.

Rather than focusing on indulging, however, some Christians designate the three weeks before Lent as Shrovetide. Shrove comes from the word “shrive”, meaning “to absolve” and, for Christians who are focused on “shriving”, Shrovetide is a period of self-examination, repentance, and amendments of sins. In some Orthodox traditions, Shrove Sunday is also known as “Forgiveness Sunday”, which includes “Forgiveness Vespers”. By emphasizing forgiveness of sins and transgressions, as well as fasting, as a foundation for beginning the Great Lent, people believe that they will be better able to focus on the spiritual aspects of life with a pure heart.

“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”

— The Gospel According to St. Luke (9:29 – 31, NIV)

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Quinquagesima 2022”]

NOTE: This playlist has been slightly revised for 2024 & 2025, but the practice timings have not changed. The YouTube playlist has one extra before/after track.

“If you’re looking to stay connected with the Lord during this Ordinary Time, Father Kubicki offered a suggestion. He said, ‘One thing I really recommend, and this is something I became very engaged in when I was director of the Apostleship of Prayer, is to see every day as “kairos”’.

Fr. Kubicki explained that the Greeks had two words for time. One was chronos, which is the root of the word chronological. ‘That’s just basically day in and day out,’ he said. ‘Kairos is a sense of a privileged moment, a graced moment, of God breaking into our lives, being present to us.’”

— quoted from the January 12, 2021 Relevant Radio® article entitled “Finding Grace in Ordinary Time” by Stephanie Foley

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

¹NOTE: Sundays during Lent are considered anniversaries of Easter and the Resurrection; therefore, they are not counted as days of penance.

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