Dear COA Family,
This Sunday and the next 26 Sundays, we are in a season called Ordinary Time in the church calendar.
Ordinary Time, however, is no ordinary season; rather it is derived from the Latin word “Ordinal”, which
means “count” or “counting”.
The heart of this season, in turn, is based on Moses’ prayer: “Teach us to number our days, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
As we number or “count” our days, we intentionally live each day of our lives for a specific purpose and
not waste them away.
In other words, Ordinary Time is actually a very special and significant season. Each day is a day to
live for God’s kingdom and purposes. As we live in the light of eternity – that our true lives are hidden
with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) – we begin to have different perspectives and priorities, and we
make different choices in our lives.
Another interesting aspect of Ordinary Time is also the focus on the ability and strength that we have
to accomplish God’s purposes.
Ordinary Time occurs immediately after Pentecost Sunday for a reason – it is the Holy Spirit who
empowers us to accomplish all of the work of the ministry. Jesus said, “(Y)ou will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
We are not to accomplish God’s purposes in our wisdom and strength alone; rather we are to serve in
the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we have the very resource from God to do his work!
And the season of Ordinary Time is also the longest of any of the Church seasons. This is because it is
concerned with the life and work of the church in the power of the Holy Spirit – which represents the
bulk of what we do here on earth.
The Gospel writer Luke records, “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to
do and to teach” (Acts 1:1).
This means that what Jesus has begun, we as the church are called to continue. We exist for a reason
and that reason is to carry on to completion the proclamation of the gospel through word and deed until
Christ comes again.
So, Church, may this Ordinary Time season of the church year be a very meaningful and fruitful one for
all of us. May we choose to live every day in close communion with Christ, and rely on the power and
utilise the gifts of the Holy Spirit to serve one another and reach out to a world in darkness and sin.
In this way, we will live our lives fully according to God’s will and truly “gain a heart of wisdom”.
God bless,
Revd Ian