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The longest season of the church begins after Pentecost and runs through the summer and autumn until a new church year begins in Advent.
Actually, it's a bit of a misnomer to call this time a "season." Rather, it is the time falling outside of the church's true liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Lent. This is the Tempus per Annum, the "time throughout the year," which is known in liturgical circles as "Ordinary Time." The 33 or 34 Sundays, including those between Epiphany and the beginning of Lent and those between Pentecost Sunday and the beginning of Advent, make up Ordinary Time.
In absolute terms, these Sundays are labeled by the lectionary, the set of Bible readings that define which lesson is read on which Sunday. The Sunday where we use Lectionary 19, for example, is called the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. There is no "First Sunday in Ordinary Time" because the first week of Ordinary Time, the week after Epiphany, begins on a Monday. We more commonly call the Sundays by their distance from the festivals of Epiphany or Pentecost, talking about the "Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost" or the "Second Sunday after Epiphany."
The season spans the early part of the year, nearly all of the summer and continues into the Fall, until the church year ends on Christ the King Sunday. The latter part of the season deals with descriptions of the kingdom of God and the return of Christ. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:13, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." As leaves fall from the trees and nature prepares for winter, we are reminded of the imminence of death and judgment. Like the wise virgins, who had filled their lamps with oil in preparation for the groom's return, we are to be faithful and ever-watchful for the return of Christ, that we may "go in with [Him] to the wedding banquet." (Matthew 25:10)
History
There is no clear consensus on how these Sundays came to be known by the term "ordinary." It comes either from the ordinal numbering of the Sundays in the season (first, second, last) or—more simply and more likely—from the same root as the English word "ordinary," meaning common, usual or customary. Unfortunately, the definition of ordinary also carries the connotations "unexceptional," "uninteresting" or "unsurprising." This time is no break from the splendor of the church year. Instead, it is a celebration of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the church. Through the Word and the Sacrament, we explore the themes of justification, sin, grace, love, obedience, endurance and hope. This is truly the "Time of the Church."
Colors
The color of the season is green, which symbolizes life and growth in God's grace.
Symbols
Each Sunday after Epiphany and through the summer we are offered different images and symbols of the church's life and the work of Christ. This profusion of images give the worshiper new insight into the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
In the fall, the readings call us to turn our attention from the "now" to the "not yet." We're warned to be prepared for the promised—and therefore inevitable—second coming.
Sources
LCMS Church Year, ELCA Liturgical Planning and ChurchYear.net.
Image Credit
"Stock Exchng." |
