Back to Ordinary Time
With Pentecost Sunday just having been celebrated, we now move into Ordinary Time in our Church liturgical calendar. The first two Sundays of Ordinary time are theological celebrations: The Most Holy Trinity and then The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The vestment color in Ordinary time is green (signifying hope) and the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer move us into the autumn and give us plenty of time to grow and develop our Easter faith and baptism commitment before Advent begins.
Ordinary Time doesn’t mean “ordinary” in the way we usually think; it comes from the word that means numbered. You might recall that before the Second Vatican Council and the liturgical reform the Sundays after Pentecost were referred to as (for example) the “10th Sunday after Pentecost” and on and on until the great Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (usually close to the last Sunday of November). Now we use the term (for example) the “13th Sunday of Ordinary Time” as our designation of where we are in the liturgical calendar; that goes all the way to the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time which is just prior to the same Solemnity of Christ the King.
Ordinary Time is the time to deepen our walk with the Lord and His Church. It is the time to put into action the graces of the Easter Season in practical ways. How might we do this? Some suggestions:
Regular attendance at Sunday Mass: make this a priority!
Regular reading of Scripture: the Gospel of Luke will be used each Sunday until the end of November.
Regular daily prayer: in the morning, evening, and/or at night to converse with the Lord.
Going to Confession: many adults do this 3-4 times per year (or more) as they seek holiness of life.
Works of mercy: getting involved in outreach, a charity, a concrete way to help others.
Parish involvement: what ministry/activity interests you and calls you to get involved?
Become a person of gratitude: one who has gratitude also has a gracious way of being.
Let us live an extraordinary life of grace during the months ahead, making a difference in our world.
Monsignor John Urell
