The Sovereign Love of God

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T he S eason after P entecost

The phrase Ordinary Time ought not to be interpreted as “unimportant time.” Rather, it should be understood in the sense of “counted or numbered days,” i.e., like “ordinal” numbers – first, second, third. This has to do with the numbered Sundays of the year outside of the special seasons in the two cycles. These “ordinary” Sundays tend to emphasize Jesus’ earthly life and ministry (in the first group of Ordinary Time between Epiphany and Lent ), and his headship, harvest, and vigilance in light of Christ as our hope (in the larger group of Sundays in the second). In a real sense, the Season after Pentecost emphasizes the most significant sign of the Kingdom’s presence in this world: the coming of the Holy Spirit. As Peter recounted in his sermon so many years ago, God promised that in the last time the Spirit of God would be poured out on humankind, with all of the people of God prophesying, seeing visions, and dreaming dreams, both male and female. God’s wonders would be seen in the earth, and the witness to God’s salva­ tion in Christ would be taken to the ends of the earth. Glory to God, we live in that age, the time of the presence of the heavenly dove and entrance of the Spirit into our world! O, Heavenly Dove, Fill Your People with Your Power and Light During this Season after Pentecost, we join with congregations worldwide to seek the power of the Spirit for our own trans­ formation and the fruitfulness of our mission to the inner cities of America. Let us depend on the Holy Spirit, the One who has sealed us for the day of redemption, who indwells us and fills us with the presence and power of God for mission. Let us neither grieve nor quench him, but yield ourselves afresh to him for strength, grace, and wisdom. Only through the power of the Spirit can the cities of America be reached with the Gospel. Truly, if the cities of the world are won to