Liturgy Lessons: Ordinary Time
Did you know that Ordinary Time is anything BUT ordinary? Read on to learn more!
The Liturgical Season of Ordinary Time
We’re in the season of the liturgical year called “Ordinary Time.” Some identifying features of Ordinary Time include that the priest wears green vestments, and the Gospel passages we hear at Mass follow the chronological timeline of Jesus’ ministry and teaching, rather than focusing on a unified theme. This is different from other seasons like Advent, Lent, or Easter, when there are definite themes.
Ordinary time is about the fullness of Jesus’ ministry and teaching, and about our growth as disciples. The color green symbolizes life and growth, and during ordinary time, we see lots of green in nature. The Gospel passages reveal the fullness of Jesus’ teaching and the unfolding revelation of the Kingdom. This growth is mirrored in nature during this time as plants and trees grow and develop.
Growth & Ripening
“Ordinary” does not mean ‘mundane’ or ’boring,’ but instead indicates that the Sundays in this part of the liturgical year go in order… thus the name ‘ordinary.’ The readings at Mass during Ordinary time usually relate to each other. Oftentimes, the first reading will point out what to do, the second reading will tell how to do it, and the Gospel will show us what it looks like from Jesus’ life and teaching.
Ordinary time is a great season of growth and ripening. In our part of the world, it usually coincides nicely with the growth of crops and gardens. It concludes around the time of Thanksgiving, with the Feast of Christ the King. Again, this providentially coincides with harvest and fulfillment, and then the liturgical cycle begins again with Advent.
Put Our Faith into Practice
During Ordinary Time, it is helpful to practice the fundamental virtues of the Christian life: justice, prudence, temperance, courage, faith, hope, and love. It may be spiritually beneficial to try the practice of Lectio Divina, which is a way of using Bible Passages as a form of prayer, so that the Word of God becomes a living conversation and the Word of God takes root, grows, and bears fruit in our souls. Let’s think of this season of Ordinary Time as the opportunity that God gives us to fully practice and implement the spiritual lessons we have learned through the liturgical year so far: the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
Ordinary Time is a time for practicing and reinforcing these lessons, so that, like the vibrancy of nature around us, we can grow and flourish as fruitful disciples of the Kingdom and bring forth a rich harvest of souls for Heaven.
