A precocious walker, our granddaughter Hannah has been toddling (and dashing) about upright for well over a year now…so it caught me by surprise when she resorted to crawling for a brief spell this morning.
Ironic: On Leap Day, She-Of-Boundless-Energy reverts to hands-and-knees.
A blur of energy…even on her hands-and-knees…
Not that I’d expect Hannah to know how to act on such an occasion: It is, after all, the very first February 29th she’s ever experienced in her short life. There’s absolutely nothing about this odd date that she’d be able to consider “routine.”
I wonder if the Church’s liturgists had a similar outcome in mind when they selected the scripture passages to be proclaimed at Mass today. The response to the Psalm, in particular, caught my attention – much like seeing Hannah crawl about on hands-and-knees.
Not once, but FIVE times I heard myself repeating this verse aloud, along with my fellow worshippers:
Athirst is my soul for the living God; when shall I go and behold the face of God?
While on one level, it certainly expresses the deep truth of my heart – I would very much like to see God face-to-face – it occurs to me that I’d just as soon NOT have the prayer answered on Leap Day 2016. Personally, I’m very much in favor of making it to March 1st…and beyond. In fact, I wouldn’t mind adding a few MORE Leap Days to my life’s run…before I behold the face of God.
As I wrestled a bit with that contradiction embedded in my spirit, I realized that it’s a good thing, indeed, to have a Leap Day every once in a while…
…An “extra” day to remind me that EVERY day is a gift – even the ones I consider “ordinary.”
…Especially the ones I consider ordinary.
In the meantime, it would probably be fruitful for me to make like Hannah – and get on my knees for a spell. To spend part of my Leap Day…praying in gratitude for every good gift, every ordinary day…and every extraordinary one…that God pours out into my life.
Praying for God’s mercy, too: So that my conversion of heart continues during this holy season…and I become less attached to “my” time, “my” schedule, “my” priorities.
Make my heart truly thirsty for You, O Lord!
The blessings of Leap Day: Something to ponder…
Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.
IHS
With Us Still 
thx
Joe Vilmain