As the liturgical calendar goes in its annual cycle, the Church associates “the return of dates and seasons with the remembrance of past events.” (Dies Domini 76) Remembrance of these decisive events is then celebrated by people in a festive manner which gives vibrance and disrupts the monotone atmosphere of daily life.
After the Christmas season, churches can be observed to put green-colored décors along with the priests donning green vestments. Green, the color that symbolizes life and hope is as well the liturgical color of Ordinary Time.
Ordinary Time is the longest season in the liturgical calendar which counts thirty-three or thirty-four Sundays. During this season, the faithful are invited to reflect and meditate on the life of Christ and his ministry of teachings and miracles.
There are two periods the Ordinary Time is observed, the first is from the Monday following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord continuing until the Ash Wednesday and the second is from the Monday following Pentecost continuing until the start of Advent Season.
In the first period of Ordinary Time, the faithful encounter wonderful moments to pray and reflect with their family. With the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as “Candlemas” celebrated on February 2, families observe the tradition of bringing candles to be blessed – these candles, in turn, are being used in Catholic homes’ altars during the year.
With the second period of Ordinary Time starting after the Pentecost, the faithful receive the opportunity to know more about the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is then celebrated on the first Sunday following Pentecost which gives the faithful the fullness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And followed by Corpus Christi Sunday, the faithful commemorate Jesus offering His Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
Marking the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King Sunday.
During Ordinary Time, the Gospels bring the faithful into knowing more about the Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The faithful as well learn about the teachings of Jesus through the parables, know about the encounter of the people and the disciples with Him, and even the very point-of-view of the authorities who persecuted Him.
Though ordinary seemed usual and monotonous, the faithful are invited to find the extraordinary while taking time for nourishment and growth in spiritual life. And as we journey through this season, may we find ourselves in a deeper and closer relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
References:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=12022
https://www.catechist.com/catholics-know-ordinary-time/
https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/find-the-extraordinary-in-ordinary-time
