Saying goodbye to Easter Season and hello to Ordinary Time

On this Sunday night as we complete evening prayer II for Pentecost Sunday, we say goodbye to Easter Season and hello to Ordinary Time!!  I trust each of you had a wonderful spiritually fulfilling Easter season.  With such a late Easter this year the season was extended all the way to this very day when we conclude Easter with the Solemnity of Pentecost.  As a sign of the ending of the Easter Season, at our last mass today I processed out of the Church carrying the Easter Candle with me; a complete reversal from that beautiful ceremony of light from the Easter Vigil Mass back in April.


With Ordinary Time comes the green vestments.  But we are always challenged to remember that there is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time.  In fact, these next two Sundays are special events as we will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity next weekend followed by the Feast of the Body and Blood Of Christ in two weeks.


Ordinary Time, in a more secular sense, is a reminder that summer is here.  Although Ordinary Time will eventually collide with the cooler months come October, November, she is almost always ushered in, at least down here, as the heat is taking hold.  June ushers in no more school, ordinations, hot weather, the first month of hurricane season, vacation time and evening grilling.  In the Archdiocese of New Orleans June also sees the continuation of the many meetings that make up the 9th Synod for our Archdiocese.  I can honestly say that I am so looking forward to the meeting for the Permanent Deacons on June 24th.


For my family, as we begin Ordinary Time, my wife and I will feel like things are ordinary all right as we return to work Monday after 10 days off and 6 days with our #1 grandson.  We had an awesome vacation and visit with my North Carolina family and I'm sure I've chronicled our trip enough in previous posts.  We did get to Skype with Calvin today and it was great to see him, especially as Wendy and I are kind of missing him after we returned home this past Thursday night.  But for us, things are never boring.  We did have an exciting Friday and Saturday all centered around the wedding of our daughter's childhood and life-long friend Katie.  I was asked to read a blessing in the wedding and Elizabeth was maid of honor, so we enjoyed a delightful dinner after the rehearsal and the delicious food last night at the reception.


As Ordinary Time is about to begin I also realize that for me this means an increase in cutting grass.  Yep, I already spent about 4 hours on the tractor yesterday and another hour this afternoon.  And I left plenty for me to finish tomorrow after work if I am so inclined.


So I hope you are ready to embrace Ordinary Time.  Follow along  with the daily prayers to get a flow of the season.  Celebrate the Saints days during Ordinary Time and embrace the secular holidays, family birthdays and anniversaries too!  Enjoy family and friends.  Pray daily, attend Mass, be alert for any special offerings at your parish for the entire family, from vacation Bible School to adult faith formation.


And be extraordinary during this season of Ordinary Time!!!