An Introduction To The Ordinary Time After Pentecost

The season from Pentecost to the beginning of Advent is ordinary, or nonfestive, time. During this season, the church focuses on its vision for witness to the world and on God's continuing work in bringing about his kingdom. Once the festival seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost are over, a long stretch of time known as the non-festive season, or ordinary time, spans through the summer and fall months until the festive cycle begins again. Ordinary time has a character that is distinctly different than that of the festal season, particularly in the fact that the various Sundays are not connected by a particular theme. In Advent we await the coming of Christ; during Christmas, we celebrate his arrival; and at Epiphany, we proclaim that Christ is manifested to the world as Savior. During Lent, we prepare for the death; in Holy Week, we reenact his death;, then in Easter, we celebrate his resurrection and complete the Easter cycle with the cele…