This Sunday, the Sunday following Easter, is jokingly referred to by clergy as “National Associates Sunday.” Some senior pastors take the Sunday off. After the busyness of Lent and Holy Week, it can be a welcome relief. I’ve never had that opportunity, although I did have an associate in one church. And, usually, it’s the lowest attended Sunday of the year. Sort of like the Sunday after Christmas Eve. Even lower than the summer!

Since the beginning of Advent, and maybe a few weeks before (think about Church Conference, Thanksgiving, and other events in the life of the church), the church has been on a headlong rush towards Easter. Immediately after Christmas, when we think we might have some respite, a number of things crop up. There is Epiphany and that season, marked at the end in Transfiguration Sunday. The following Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the fort days of Lent. Then comes Easter. It seems the church hardly has the time to catch its collective breath.

So, now, here we are in the lull that follows Easter. For some, Easter marks the downhill descent towards the end of school. Vacation planning may be in full force. For others, it’s a time of winding down projects in preparation for the long, hot summer that is peaking over the horizon. And, the last thing that may be on many minds is church. And for a few, Easter marks the end of their church attendance year. They’ve done Christmas Eve and Easter. Nothing else is needed. I feel sorry for them. I believe they’re missing the ongoing, ever-evolving life of the church.

While there are no major church times such as Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, it is the Easter season. In fact, in the tradition of the ancient Christian church, each Sunday, regardless of its significance in the liturgical year, is a little Easter. All of them. With no exceptions. In this season we’re moving towards Pentecost, the day we traditionally celebrate the birth of the church. Pentecost falls on June 4 this year. The time after Pentecost, known in the church calendar as the “Sundays after Pentecost,” also is referred to as “Kingdomtide,” and often, as “Ordinary Time.” It’s this latter time I believe is most important.

Ordinary Time can be a time of practicing what Brother Lawrence, a lay brother of the Discalced Carmelite monastery, called “practicing the presence of God.” I like that. Of course, during the Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter seasons, we may be more acutely aware of God’s presence. For Brother Lawrence, it was during the ordinary time of life when God’s presence was not so keenly felt that this was important. He understood that one could fall back into old habits at such times. Being as disciple, as he suggested, was easy during the “high church” times, but much more difficult through the ordinary times of life.

Soon we’ll be in that ordinary time. May be, already we are. Each of us is prompted by the Holy Spirit not to lose sight of the Easter proclamation: “Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will (my emphasis) come again.” As disciples of Jesus Christ, what will we do with this time? Will we “rest up” for Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter? Or will we use this time to grow in our discipleship as we live under the lordship of Jesus Christ? It’s our choice. See you on this wonderful journey of grace.

Grace and peace,

Mike

April 23, 2017