Episcopal: ‘Ordinary Time’

As humans it would seem a fair statement that we have a certain obsession with time. Most of us check the weather app on our phone or at least we look out to see whether the sun has risen or set yet. Through the centuries as humans, we have used the lunar calendar or the solar calendar to orient ourselves. Personally, I think that this curiosity with time betrays an innate quest within us that seeks to understand the relationship between time and eternity. Even our calendars are connected to spiritual traditions, whether that is the Jewish tradition, the Muslim tradition, the Hindu tradition or astrology. We also have the church calendar. Currently we are in what is called the Sundays after the Epiphany. This period in the church calendar is referred to as “ordinary time.” which began with the star of Bethlehem guiding the Magi to the manger. Literally “epiphany” means to “shine upon.” The ordinary Sundays after the Epiphany are a time to grow in awareness of the extraordinary light of God shining upon us—just like the Magi.

A good question to ponder for us human beings created in the image of God during the ordinary days of our church calendar would be to ask what difference does it make for God’s light to shine upon us. Another way to ask the same question would be to ask what difference does it make to know that I am eternally loved by God. One Christian writer concluded that it leads to extraordinary living for ordinary human beings like you and me.

Please join the Episcopal Group on Sundays at 9 a.m. for worship and fellowship in these ordinary times.