A new book by Michael McGirr is driven by the author’s belief that God might be humming a slightly different tune in your ear today than yesterday or tomorrow.
In his seminal work The Order of Things, French historian and philosopher Michel Foucault said that order is both something natural in the world and something we create with our minds. Conversely, it could be argued that humans in their complexity have a way of creating chaos from order, yet it longs for that order.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the community in Corinth, gives us a portrait that God is not of “disorder but of Shalom” (1 Corinthians 14:33). This idea of disorder being juxtaposed with peace gives us some insight into the wisdom of the Church through its development of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time.
Ordinary Time, often misunderstood as a period of lesser significance, is not “ordinary” because it is dull or unremarkable. Instead, it derives its name from the term “ordinal,” which refers to that which is numbered.
The season spans 33 to 34 weeks of the year in two parts, but for the most part between Corpus Christi and Christ the King. This season encourages growth, reflection, and the practice of faith in the routine and ordinary aspects of daily life.
By reflecting on the life and ministry of Jesus the season invites Christians to discover the divine in the everyday, fostering a spirituality that is deeply rooted in regular life rather than in the extraordinary events commemorated during other liturgical seasons.
Every Day is New is the latest work by Michael McGirr, who has an uncanny gift of finding God in the ordinary, in the seemingly mundane. It is driven from his belief that “God might be humming a slightly different tune in your ear than yesterday or tomorrow”.
“Every Day is New: Prayers and Reflections for Ordinary Time” by Michael McGirr. Image: Garratt Publishing/Supplied
He draws on the concept of “heaven in ordinary,” a phrase borrowed from the poet George Herbert, to emphasise that the divine is not confined to grand religious experiences but is present in the most mundane of moments.
He acknowledges that there are plenty of reflections available for seasons like Advent, Lent and Easter, but far fewer resources for Ordinary Time. This book fills that gap, offering prayers and reflections that encourage a deeper engagement with the everyday moments that make up most of the Christian year.
At its core, Every Day is New is a collection of reflections on the Gospel of the day and a weekly prayer to accompany Ordinary Time. McGirr’s motivation for the work came from his own desire to find a structure for prayer as from anywhere else.
The book is segmented into the weeks of Ordinary time. One of the strengths of the text is how McGirr uses personal anecdotes, theological reflections and even contemporary cultural references to convey his message. In doing so he blends personal reflection with broader theological insights, illustrating his skill in connecting everyday experiences with deeper spiritual truths.
Each week is accompanied with a mostly urban photo of something seemingly unremarkable, most likely ignored; from a sticker on a traffic light, to a triptych of council signs saying, ‘No Swimming’, ‘No Boating’, ‘No Dogs’.
McGirr provides the reference for the Gospel of the day and a short insight into that Gospel. He also offers his way of praying that resembles the Benedictine contemplative practice of Lectio Divina infused with Jesuit efficiency.
Author Michael McGirr speaks during day one of the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Australian Catholic Communications Congress at the Rydges North Sydney. Image: Ryan Macalandag/ACBC
While the book’s primary function is to be used on a consistent basis, it is the type that can be opened for any occasion. The reflections are apt for our time, some offer an empathetic warmth and humour that uplifts, for example, the prayer for Week 12 starts out “God of compassion, Be with us when we lack energy, When we are tired or frustrated, When we wish the meeting would end”. McGirr then invites the reader to appreciate others patiently and to see something good in everyone.
In keeping with his earlier works, McGirr offers readers a contemplative yet accessible journey into the heart of daily Christian living. It reminds us of the Prophet Elijah who found that God was not in the earthquake, wind or fire but rather in a gentle whisper.
Every Day is New is recommended for both those starting or renewing their sense of daily prayer or the time-poor seeking a small refuge from the chaos of ordinary life.
Every Day is New: Prayers and Reflections for Ordinary Time, Michael McGirr (Garratt Publishing, 2024). To order your copy, click here.
Adrian Middeldorp holds a Bachelor of Media from the University of Adelaide and a Masters of Teaching from Australian Catholic University. Adrian is a parishioner at St Paul the Apostle Parish, Winston Hills.
Reproduced with permission from the August 2024 edition of The Good Oil, the news publication of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
