What is Ordinary Time?
Ordinary Time invites believers into a rhythm of steady spiritual growth and faithful discipleship. Far from being mundane, this season—spanning the Sundays after Pentecost until the eve of Advent—offers Anglicans worldwide a space to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and service. Rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus, Ordinary Time is a call to live out the gospel in the everyday moments of life, embodying the transformative power of faith.
The Meaning of Ordinary Time
The term "Ordinary" in Ordinary Time does not suggest a lack of significance but comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning "numbered," referring to the counted weeks of the season. These weeks are known as the "Sundays after Pentecost", emphasizing their connection to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). This season follows the high points of the liturgical year—Advent’s anticipation, Christmas’s joy, Lent’s penitence, and Easter’s triumph—and shifts the focus to the ongoing work of the Spirit in the life of the church.
Ordinary Time is a season of formation, where Anglicans are invited to grow in their understanding of Christ’s teachings and to apply them in daily life. The Gospel readings during this period, often highlight Jesus’ parables, miracles, and interactions with ordinary people. For instance, the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9, ESV) challenges believers to cultivate hearts receptive to God’s word, while the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37, ESV) calls them to love their neighbors sacrificially. As Paul writes in Colossians 2:6–7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith” (ESV). Ordinary Time is the season to walk this path with intention.
Theological Depth of Ordinary Time
Theologically, Ordinary Time reflects the “already but not yet” reality of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have inaugurated the kingdom, yet its full realization awaits his return. Anglicans live in this tension, called to embody the values of the kingdom—love, justice, and mercy—in the present world. This perspective resonates with Hebrews 12:1–2, which urges believers to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (ESV). Ordinary Time is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring perseverance and trust in God’s sustaining grace.
The season also emphasizes the centrality of Christ’s teachings in shaping Christian character. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7, ESV), often read during Ordinary Time, serves as a blueprint for kingdom living, calling Anglicans to humility, forgiveness, and peacemaking. These teachings are not abstract ideals but practical guides for daily life, encouraging believers to reflect Christ’s light in their communities. As Jesus declares in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV). Ordinary Time invites Anglicans to make this vision a reality through small, faithful acts.
Liturgical Practices in Ordinary Time
Anglican worship during Ordinary Time is marked by practices that ground believers in Scripture and tradition, fostering a rhythm of devotion. These practices, rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, provide a framework for encountering God in both corporate and personal settings.
1. The Lectionary and Preaching
The Lectionary, widely used across Anglican churches, guides congregations through a cycle of Scripture readings that illuminate Christ’s life and teachings. During Ordinary Time, the Gospel readings often follow a sequential journey through one Gospel, allowing worshippers to immerse themselves in Jesus’ ministry. Preaching in this season connects these texts to contemporary challenges, urging Anglicans to live out passages like James 2:17, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (ESV). This focus on practical application helps believers bridge the gap between Sunday worship and daily life.
2. The Holy Eucharist
The Eucharist is the heart of Anglican worship, and in Ordinary Time, it serves as a weekly reminder of Christ’s presence and sacrifice. The Eucharistic liturgy, with its prayers and rituals, invites worshippers to partake in the body and blood of Christ, renewing their commitment to follow him. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (ESV). The Eucharist in Ordinary Time becomes a sustaining meal, nourishing believers for the journey of discipleship.
3. The Daily Office
The daily office—morning and evening prayer—offers Anglicans a structured way to engage with Scripture and prayer daily. Rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, this practice includes psalms, canticles, and readings that anchor believers in God’s word. Psalm 1:2–3, often prayed in the daily office, describes the blessed person who meditates on God’s law: “His delight is in the law of the Lord
Conculsion
Ordinary Time invites Anglicans into a sacred rhythm of faithful living, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary through the presence of Christ. As we engage in the practices of worship, prayer, and service, we are shaped by the Spirit to bear fruit in our daily lives, reflecting the love and teachings of Jesus. This season reminds us that every moment is an opportunity to encounter God and to live out his call to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31, ESV). May we embrace Ordinary Time with open hearts, trusting that Jesus walks with us, as he promised: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV).