We are well into the Sundays after Pentecost, or what in some denominations are called the Sundays in Ordinary Time. I have always thought this was not the most enticing way to describe the Lord’s Day, for there is nothing ordinary about a Sunday! In our children’s formation classes, our Godly Play curriculum calls the Sundays after Pentecost the “green, growing Sundays.” That’s more like it. In fact, the Sundays of summer are not ordinary; the lessons for Mass usually have to do with the nitty gritty demands of discipleship. In the green days of summer and into the fall, we meditate on the earthiness of walking the Way with Christ. We go back to our roots and trace the steps of Jesus in his earthly ministry. We become little seeds, planted and nourished by God to bear fruit in the world.
It’s a bit unfortunate and ironic that during the summer Sundays, when many people are traveling and Mass attendance is diminished, we hear some of the most challenging Gospel readings on discipleship. Every Christian needs to be reminded, constantly, that following Jesus is costly, hard work, and not for the faint of heart. And while our choir and children’s formation are on hiatus and worship seems a bit simpler in the summer months, I invite you to let the Gospel readings at Mass over the course of the coming weeks become part of your spiritual reflection and meditation.
I missed being with you last Sunday, as I was in Texas visiting family. As is my custom when I’m away, I found a nearby Episcopal church to attend. And although I always miss worship at Good Shepherd when I’m traveling, worshiping in other churches when I’m away helps me claim my membership in the wider Church. Every Episcopal church is a bit different from others, and it’s good for us to not to idolize our own type of worship at Good Shepherd. This emphasizes the catholicity of our rich Anglican tradition.
I always expect that attendance during the summer months will be less than during the program year because of people’s travel schedules. But nevertheless, at Good Shepherd, we carry on with our usual liturgical schedule, with some occasional exceptions to the weekday rhythm when I’m on vacation. (Please consult our website for the latest liturgical schedule.) Sundays are Sundays, whether they occur in the summer months or in September. They are always days to celebrate and feast on Word and Sacrament. The Anglo-Catholic tradition has sometimes referred to days of obligation or holy days of obligation. And while I feel that the word “obligation” can connote a perfunctory duty, it’s also true that our Christian identity comes with certain expectations. One of those expectations is that we will keep the Lord’s Day in worship. At times, we will not feeling like going to church, but those are the times when we need to go the most. So, while the Christian tradition does assume honoring the Lord’s Day, I hope that worship is, more often than not, a joy for you, not a mere obligation. When you are in town this summer, I hope you will attend either the 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Mass. The Lord’s Day is never ordinary! And if you’re traveling, find the nearest Episcopal parish and go to Mass. You can search for any Episcopal Church in the country on this website. I hope that in doing so, you will be warmly welcomed at another parish and also be grateful for what we have here at Good Shepherd.
If we have any intention for these coming summer months, may we see the Sundays after Pentecost (the “green, growing Sundays”) as opportunities for going deeper in our own discipleship. They are feast days and days of joy. Through the long, green Sundays of the coming months, may our hearts, bodies, minds, and souls be transformed by the glory of worship. May they be watered by God’s grace and nourished to bear good fruit. Worship on the Lord’s Day enables us to be fed for ministry and thereby to feed others. For that very reason, worship is never ordinary.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle