This is one of my favorite times of year for TV. A lot of shows have their final episodes of the season this week. This year, I have not missed too many episodes of American Idol, The Following (I know this is a pretty sick show), The Office, & Parks & Rec. Soon, we'll be forced to watch reruns which I usually don't like to do unless it was a really, really, really good episode.
Coincidentally, a lot of our activities wind down around this time of year. Schools are concluding their academic year, graduations are just around the corner, and we have finally made it to the NBA playoffs!
Season ending TV shows remind me of our faith. Even the church's liturgical year has a feel of transition as we only have a few weeks left in the Easter Season. Soon, the church will begin its longest season of the year called Ordinary Time which will last from June through November. The liturgical color on the altar typically stays green during this entire time signifying steady growth.
A lot of the scripture readings during Ordinary Time feel a little bit like TV reruns because they don't feel all that flashy and new. Even so, these familiar biblical stories still speak a fresh word to us because our lives never stay the same. To varying degrees, our experiences and circumstances have changed over time which is why it's important to read familiar scripture readings with a new openness.
One of the reasons that it feels like the bible frequently repeats itself is because life doesn't stay the same. We always are in need of a fresh Word from the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
Yes, the exciting episodes of Christmas and Easter are feeling more and more like distant memories, but our faith continues on. God still speaks challenging and reassuring words to us even during the long rerun season.
I have a friend who still watches past episodes of the long running TV series, MASH. One day, I asked him if he ever gets tired of seeing the same episode seven or eight times. His response? Every episode of MASH has a truth that relates to my life in some way. I never get tired of watching MASH reruns.
As we near the end of the Easter Season and prepare for Ordinary Time, may we be able to say, Every scripture in the Bible has a truth that relates to my life in some way. I never get tired of reading the Bible.
May it be so.
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