I’d like to know who is in charge of naming things in the Catholic Church.  With the Popes being real busy, I’m sure it is someone else at the Vatican.   Truly, it doesn’t matter who made it official- I really just want to register a protest.  I vote for our current liturgical season, Ordinary Time, to be called Pentecost – or at least something more exciting than a title that seems to imply that nothing real exciting is happening in the life of the Church during this time of year.

I know, I know.  Ordinary Time in this context does not mean “routine” or “mundane” or – heaven forbid – “boring.”  It comes from the word “ordinal” which means to count or mark  time, and that is exactly what we are doing as we hear the daily and weekly gospel readings about the life of Christ in his public ministry.  But it is startling to consider that during Ordinary Time we celebrate God in 3 persons, Blessed Trinity;  the body and blood of Christ given for us and for the world to be our nourishment and literal food; the Blessed Virgin Mary’s assumption into heaven;  and Christ’s kingship and final judgement of us all, both believers and skeptics.

Remember the week of readings at mass from the book of Tobit as Ordinary Time picked up some steam way back in early June?  That poor woman Sarah had been married 7 times prior to marrying Tobit, and each of the 7 husbands had died on their wedding night.  Which leaves you wondering about Tobit, and whether he will be the lucky one to enjoy marital bliss for more than a 24 hour period.  I’m telling you, you can’t make this stuff up.

So give us a name to this season that calls to mind tongues of fire, being slain in the Spirit, confounding our opponents, healing people in the name of Jesus- anything.  Just something out of the ordinary.

Chick B