Ordinary Time 2013 Jan 14-Feb 12 and May 20-Nov 30
Why do we call these 34 weeks of the year Ordinary? Does this mean that these weeks are somehow of no special quality or interest, commonplace or unexceptional? No, in fact, this season is called "tempus ordinalis". 'Ordinalis' refers to numbers in a series and comes from the Latin root 'ordo' - which gives us the English word 'order'. This means that these weeks in our Church year are meant to give us order in an otherwise chaotic time. These weeks give us a structure that is neither feasting nor severe fasting. We are ordered toward something greater, someone greater - Jesus Christ who dwells with us in our everyday life through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ whom we await in eager anticipation to come again.