ORDINARY TIME: THE SEASON OF REFLECTION AND ANTICIPATION

Liturgical year is here to remind us of the divine blessings God has willingly given. Now celebrating Ordinary Time, we are now given time to stop and reflect on the purpose of life and its endless possibilities.

Written by: Rouisse Icoy

Layout by: Bernadette Ojo

February 24, 2024 | 9:08 P.M.

At the beginning of the year, the church is filled with greenery, last season was a different color. One cant help but wonder,  what does this all significantly mean? It’s the start of another Liturgical year.

The Liturgical year consists of six seasons, Advent (the coming of Jesus), Christmas (the birth of Jesus), Ordinary Time (Jesus teaches us about God and His good news), Lent (Jesus fasted to prepare for God), the Paschal Triduum (Jesus suffers and sacrifices Himself for us), and Easter (Jesus rises from the dead).

Each season commemorates the Life of Jesus. It reminds Catholics of God's purpose and love for them as His children. It also shows that every day is a blessing. Think of the Liturgical season as a “year” version of the rosary; similar, right?

During this time of the year, the church celebrates the “Ordinary Time” with the Liturgical color being green. It symbolizes the life, hope, and anticipation of Catholics in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. 

What makes this season different is its simplicity yet meaningful celebration. Every week on Sunday (Though not limited to that day only), Catholics are given the chance to explore a new aspect of Jesus' life for an hour. Catholics are gathered up in church, a situation similar to the Last Supper, wherein they eat the bread and drink the wine (A symbol of His body and blood). Other seasons are also noticeably extravagant when being celebrated. Meanwhile, Ordinary Time keeps it simple yet again, meaningful.

This season is divided into two parts. The first part is celebrated between Christmas and Lent, which lasts 4 to 8 weeks. The second part is celebrated between Easter and Advent, which lasts 6 months.

Ordinary time mirrors Jesus’ ministry during His time here. The population of His disciples is growing. It is a must that the church continuously follows Jesus’ steps and tells God’s good news. This allows everyone to listen, learn, and reflect on the assigned Gospel.