I usually carry a pocket watch. Unfortunately, my old pocket watch needs repairing, so recently I often find myself asking others: What time is it? I know that mobile phones are also helpful for this, but it is only in the last month or so that I have had my own mobile phone, so I’m still getting used to that.
While knowing the correct chronological time is helpful, followers of Jesus are encouraged to know more about time than just precise chronology. Jesus often spoke of “time” and told his disciples to be alert to and aware of the appointed time – that is, to be aware of the implications and significance of the time and season we are in.
One of the ways the Church tradition helps us know the time is by following a calendar with appointed seasons (e.g., Epiphany, Lent, Easter, etc.) and days (e.g., Ascension Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday) that remind us not only of the chronological time, but of the significance of the time for the gospel Story.
Most Adventers know this intuitively because they were raised in a tradition that pays attention to the Church Year. As a latecomer to the Anglican tradition, I’m still learning to set my internal clock to this kind of time. As I’ve learned more about the Church Year, it has been important not only for my own spiritual formation, but also as I’ve taught others about the significance of our Story.
There are numerous resources available to help us know what time it is. Here are two resources I recommend. For families with younger children, Martha Zimmerman’s book, Celebrating the Christian Year (Bethany, 1993) is very helpful. More recently, Steve Bell wrote an excellent seven-part series of short books titled Pilgrim Year (Novalis, 2018) – with wonderful music to accompany the reflections, too.
As we walk through this climactic Easter season in the Church Year, be mindful of the time, and help me remember it too – especially until my pocket watch is fixed!
– Dean
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
– John 12:23