Often, when we hear the word “ordinary” we think of something that is mundane, or banal, or dull. But, we should not think of this time in the liturgical life of the Church in such a way.
Christmas and Easter, with their climactic joy and celebration, are the great mountain peaks of the liturgical year. Ordinary Time, then, is the verdant meadows that lie between. As Christians we are called now to descend these peaks and, like sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd, pasture and graze in these meadows with Christ as He feeds us with His Word and His Eucharist. This makes the color green, with its connotations of life and growth, very appropriate.
Without a great liturgical feast to prepare for or celebrate, the Sunday liturgy becomes all the more important during Ordinary Time. According to The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, the days of Ordinary Time, especially the Sundays, "are devoted to the mystery of Christ in all its aspects."
If you are not in the habit of making the most out of your Sunday, now is the time. Remember, God did not say to keep holy the Lord’s “hour” or the Lord’s “45-minutes” (if the homily happens to be particularly short). We are called to keep holy the Lord’s day.
Perhaps before the family heads off to church, someone (ideally the father) could read the readings for the day aloud and everyone could discuss their meaning. Or, on the ride home from church, the parents could quiz the children by asking them if they remember what the first reading was about, or what the homily was about. When you get home, don’t immediately turn on the TV or hop on the internet. Instead, take a trip to the library and have everyone check out a book to read. Take a nap. Exercise. Write in a journal. Play outside. Do something nice for someone else. PRAY! Worshipping the Lord and rejuvenating yourself is really what Sunday is all about.
Why is this season called “ordinary” time?
Our English word “ordinary” comes from the Latin word ordinarius, which means "customary, regular, usual, orderly." This time is called ordinary because the Sundays that fall within it are numbered and thus succeed in an orderly fashion.
For more on Ordinary Time, see the following:
- Wikipedia: Ordinary Time
- ChurchYear.net: Ordinary Time
- Catholic Culture: Ordinary Time
- What Is Ordinary Time?
- The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar
- On Living the Liturgy
- The Liturgical Year: An In-Depth Look - Ordinary Time
- Prayers and Devotions for the Seasons of the Church Year: Ordinary Time
- Ordinary Time: Growing in Faith Throughout the Year
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