Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time “An extra-ordinary season” Mr. Pablo Cuadra Religion Class “ Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Scripture Matthew 11:4-6

Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

What is Ordinary Time?

Ordinary time is the longest liturgical season in the Church’s cycle or year.

The liturgical cycle is composed of five seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary time, Lent and Easter.

Did you know?

Ordinary time is the result of the liturgical reforms brought about by Vatican II.

The new liturgical cycle consisting of five seasons took effect on the first Sunday of Advent in 1969.

Why is Ordinary Time called Ordinary?

The word ordinary is derived from the word ordinal which means “counted time”.

During Ordinary time Sundays and weeks are counted in a quasi sequential order.

There is no first Sunday of Ordinary time. Ordinary time begins on a weekday.

Hence, The first week of Ordinary Time begins with the first Monday of ordinary time.

How is Ordinary Time structured?

Ordinary time is structured in two sections of 34 Weeks total.

The first section of Ordinary time begins after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which is the feast that marks the end of the Holy Season of Christmas and the beginning of ordinary time.

The first section of Ordinary time continues until Ash Wednesday which is the celebration that marks the beginning of Lent.

The second section of Ordinary time begins the Monday after the feast of Pentecost. The celebration of Pentecost marks the end of the season of Easter.

The second section of ordinary time continues until the Solemnity of Christ the King which is the Sunday that concludes the Liturgical cycle of the Church.

Did you know?

All years in which January 1 begins on a Sunday or Monday and leap years which begin on a Saturday will have 34 weeks. All other years will contain 33 weeks.

This means that the liturgical year will have 33 ordinary weeks approximately 68 per cent of the time.

What is the liturgical color of Ordinary time?

The liturgical color for ordinary time is green.

Green is a symbol for hope, growth and new life.

In Christian tradition, green came to symbolize the life of the church following Pentecost, as well as symbolizing the hope of new life in the resurrection.

The symbol for Ordinary Time

The Chi- Rho is a Christian symbol usually associated with the liturgical season of ordinary Time.

It consists of the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ or Christos (anointed one). The Hebrew equivalent is Messiah.

The letters that make up the Chi-Rho are: Chi =X and the letter Rho =P

The fusion of these two letters into an abbreviation became a symbol for Christ also known as labarum or monogram of Constantine.

This symbol was adopted as an emblem by Constantine.

Misconceptions about Ordinary time

The word ordinary in the liturgical sense does not mean “average” or mundane.

Another misconception about Ordinary time is that is a season without a theme.

On the contrary, the Church celebrates the mystery of Christ in all its aspects during this liturgical season.

Did you know?

During ordinary time the Gospels of Matthew (year A), Mark (year B), and Luke (year C) present in a semi-continuous manner the public ministry of Jesus beginning with the third Sunday of ordinary time.

During Ordinary time, the letters of Paul and James are read in a chronological order.

The Gospel of John is read on the Second Sunday of each year and also from the Seventeenth to the Twenty-first Sunday of Year B. On these five Sundays, we hear our Lord's discourse on "The Bread of Life" from chapter 6 of John's Gospel .

Solemnities of Ordinary time

Ordinary time is comprised of several solemnities.

Solemnities are special feasts honoring the memory of Christ, The blessed mother of God (Theotokos), the Saints, or the Holy Trinity.

Among some of the solemnities commemorated during Ordinary time are: Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, St. Peter and Paul, All Saints’ day, Christ the King.

Did you know?

When a solemnity falls on a Sunday during Ordinary time. The feast in question will pre-empt (replace) the numbered Sunday for that particular Week.

Did you know? Ordinary time always emerges on a weekday. Sometimes the second section of ordinary time starts a little higher than when we left off.

For instance, we may stop the first section of ordinary time on the fourth Sunday and re-start ordinary time on the ninth week. As it is the case this year (2008). This is done to ensure the solemnity of Christ the King always falls on the 34 th Sunday of Ordinary time.

This is how it works: Ordinary weeks count forward from The Baptism of the Lord. After the Day of Pentecost, however, they are checked backwards from the last week of the Church’s Year which is always the 34th week of Ordinary Time. So sometimes a week is dropped out.

Announcing the Kingdom of God

During Ordinary Time the Church highlights Jesus’ public ministry and his saving actions:

His preaching – his message about the Kingdom of God.

His works– i.e. “Feeding the hungry”

His healings– i.e. “Curing the sick”

His ministry – i.e. “instructing his disciples”

Announcing the Kingdom of God

Ordinary Time is a great opportunity for Evangelization.

Every baptized Christian is called to spread the “Good News” of Jesus Christ to all the corners of earth.

St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel. And if necessary, use words”.

As Christians we continue the ministry of Jesus, and his saving actions among the men and women of today. Hence, that the Church, the people of God, is called the Sacrament of Christ.

We continue, as an extension of Christ’s body, to proclaim the reality of the Kingdom of God, by word and deeds, with the same intensity and urgency as that of Christ our savior.

Announcing the Kingdom

During ordinary time we can do several things that can help us spread the Good News and grow in faith and charity. Here are some suggestions:

Volunteering at a local soup kitchen or mentoring at a crisis shelter like Covenant House, or building houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Joining your parish CCD or RCIA programs, parishes are always in need of volunteers.

Becoming a lector or Eucharistic minister. Helping your pastor by bringing holy communion to the sick or homebound.

Visiting the elderly at a nursing home, or joining your parish bereavement ministry.

Spending time each day becoming acquainted with the Gospels.

Joining the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, this Catholic organization, is very active promoting family and Catholic values and helping the Church’s mission.

Asking your priest about what ministries in your parish may be more suitable for you.

Joining the choir

Finding out about the different prayer or bible groups in your parish. Joining these groups is a great opportunity for fellowship besides Sunday Mass.

Ordinary Time An extra-ordinary season

Ordinary Time is an open invitation to walk with the Lord. He comes to the shores of our daily lives, intercept us in the midst our busy and hectic schedules and invites us, like he did with the early disciples, to come and follow him to know the life that never ends, the Kingdom that never perishes and the treasure that never looses its value.

The Beatitudes