These "Ordinary" Times

Each year we enter this period of “ordinary time” readings for the church year, with this long “green” period being devoted to readings that focus on the Christian life and ministry. This year being Year B, and with both of my churches use the Track 1 readings, we continue from last year the study of our biblical history and the not-so-early biblical fathers and mothers.

If we were using the “thematic” Track 2, which connects the Hebrew Bible and Gospel readings thematically, the people in the pews would receive a greater thematic continuity between the readings and particularly the collect of the day. However, it seems that each time we enter the long ordinary time after Pentecost, the people find the Track 1 historical texts something that they crave to hear and examine further.

Perhaps it is our Christian focus on the Gospels and Paul’s letters, but the ancient historical stories seem fresh and new. Each time that we delve deeper, I see something new. I add one more question to my repertoire for delving deeper once again, realizing that I may have missed the opportunity this week or this year to discuss a new insight, but we carry on with the same history next week. And we will repeat them again in three years, so there is a chance again to capture another hidden meaning. This is particularly nice since I alternate between churches and will not be preaching in front of the same people again for two more weeks.

That is the beauty of the Track 1 readings for me. I get a second or third chance to delve and explore with the parish these historical documents once again, if not this week, next week or the one after, as we continue the story. The focus is not on the Gospel text but instead on our deep roots, our Jewish roots, and how the various facts and historical events just keep on building.

These may be “ordinary” times in the sense that this is not a special church season and the readings carry a history or theme of discipleship and ministry, but I realize these are truly “extraordinary” not “ordinary” times. It is the extraordinary time to study our histories, make them real to us today, and do so in community.

Just today a colleague mentioned how much we live and breathe our faith in and through community. We do not live our Christian faith today without recognizing that it is built on many years of Jewish life that made each of us and our belief systems what they are today. And we are building a history for those who follow us. And isn’t that what living our Christian faiths is all about? Making history and making new stories.

Theresa

Learning from our Biblical Fathers and Mothers

Most of the churches with which I work have elected to use the Track One or historical readings for this long period of Sundays after Pentecost until Advent. Thus, we will focus on the fathers and mothers of our biblical faith. We can once again learn about their importance to our biblical heritages and faith by delving into history, reading of their faith and witness.

As a ministry developer for several small churches, I see the importance of history and memory for the folks whom I serve. Last week, I decided to do Canticle 13 instead of the Psalm. Each of the nine times we said and heard the words “Glory to you,” I wanted to break into song, remembering the melodies to which those words are set in other churches that I attended over the years. I gravitated to my memories of what that canticle’s words and its tune mean for me. I remember the Gloria Patri of my own youth in another tradition and my fondness for the Gloria from a close relative’s church today.

I also am attracted by the history behind the canticle, which I shared with the church I visited last week. I noted my admiration that the three young men whose canticle we read could sing words of thanksgiving and joy from the heart of a blazing furnace on account of their faith in God. I also was impressed by the great level of detail to which the full Song of the Three Young Men gave thanks to God for all creation, including the heat of summer, the cold of winter, whales and cattle. More importantly, it offered me a reminder of mankind’s connection with all of creation, as we engage in continued creation, destruction, and re-creation of the earth and its bounty.

Serving rural churches in a beautiful setting of mountains and creeks makes it possible for me to reflect frequently on our connection with the land. That in turn reminds me of our connection with family and friends as we gather each week to offer support to each other, break bread together, share the common cup, and depart into the world to do God’s work.

Eucharistic visitors take a part of themselves and their congregations as they take communion from the services to parishioners. I make a connection with folks as I make pastoral visits or accompany parishioners for important events where they need a friendly companion—a friendly face in the scary crowd.

These connections reflect our own historical connections with each other—connections based on the stories and memories of ourselves and of our ancestors. We rely on these memories, both historical and fabricated, to maintain the connections that make us whole. Without those connections, it is difficult to make those visits, to engage in those conversations, and to build increasing trust and love within the community.

I am hoping that my frequent interactions with the various churches over the summer months, filling in for vacationing clergy, will allow me to help carry the stories of our biblical history into the present and future. I have the opportunity to grow further connections with them as we create new stories that will be the histories of future generations. As we unravel the historical pasts, we can weave new possibilities to be shared and passed along for generations ahead.

May I have the patience to wait and see what unfolds as our new beginnings while companioning my “friends” in this new history of creation!?

Theresa