The End of Ordinary
The season of Pentecost is the longest season of the church year, covering just about half of all Sundays. The Roman Catholic church and some Anglican/Episcopal churches call this season, along with the Sundays between Epiphany and Lent, “Ordinary Time.” Ordinary does not mean “common,” or “no big deal,” but it means “numbered,” “ordered,” “in a series.”
Thus November 10th is the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, November 17th is the 26th Sunday after Pentecost. This extended season focuses on life in Christian community fueled by the Holy Spirit, which was given to many people on Pentecost following Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension. If we’re intentional, the season of Pentecost offers the possibility of growing in love for God and others through walking alongside Jesus.
But over such a length of time, Jesus can become an afterthought or background figure. Even in the shorter seasons of Christmas and Easter, we are often ready to move past them once Christmas gifts have been put away or exchanged, and after Easter baskets have been emptied. The church in the book of Acts gathered daily in homes to keep life centered in Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit. We meet less frequently and often less expectantly, and are more prone to lose sight of Jesus as our center.
But Ordinary Time ends in a far from “ordinary” way. Beginning with the Roman Catholic church and soon adopted by Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in the 1920’s, the last Sunday after Pentecost, the last Sunday of the church year was designated “Christ the King” Sunday. This year Christ the King Sunday is November 24th. On November 24th we proclaim Jesus Christ as King. Not for a day, not for a four-year term, but forever. And if Jesus is king forever, He is also king for the next four years, and king for today, regardless of any competing claims at any time.
I look forward to finishing the church year strong with you, keeping Jesus Christ the King as our center, and look forward to beginning another church year December 1st and the season of Advent.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Don Wink