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| C'mon, let's defrost that meat and then let's go, peacefully, gratefully! |
Three Nocturnes
It shortens the morning routine considerably. Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. In the Old Calendar it is called the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It commemorates the story towards the end of Luke’s Infancy Narrative where Joseph and Mary bring the child to dedicated to the Lord according to the Law of the Lord, offering the prescribed sacrifice.
Liturgically, in the Old Form, this Feast ranks highly enough to merit the longer Matins of Three Nocturnes instead of just One. Practically this prolongs the time allotted for praying this part of the office about fifteen minutes.
Add to this, how I’d like to get a chicken into the pot as my supply of meat broth has been used up now, for a couple of days. That takes a few minutes, too. Lastly, there’s the small need of getting the lunch meat onto the kitchen counter to defrost some more.
Let none of this come across as complaint in the slightest. Rather, it’s all joy and privilege. In fact, the moment “woe is me” attempts to rear its stupid head, Peterson, came to mind. There was a moment early in his unedited audio interview with the Times reported where he broke down. He was remarking on the well-wishing he had been receiving from strangers in the street as he’d pass by. And what goodness that must represent given how much suffering we all endure. So no, “woe is me,” if I seem to have fewer leisurely minutes this morning. Rather: gratitude; a morning offering; an intention—who’s suffering the most, or in some particular way, who’s on retreat, who’s getting married soon, who is responsible for getting me where I am today—Lord help them all. And let’s go!
