Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

Ses s i on 6: Sp i rograph i ng Sp i r i tua l i t y 125

4. Take full advantage of the liberty you have in Christ to make spiritual formation through a disciplined observance of the Church Year meaningful.

a. Understand the significance of shared discipline.

b. Revel in the liberty we have in Christ.

c. Set your affections on the life, work, and calling of the risen Lord.

d. Allow for everyone to learn, participate, and grow.

1 Tim. 4.6-10 (ESV) If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. [7] Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; [8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. [9] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. [10] For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the

e. Take nothing for granted; do your homework and understand each observance as deeply as possible.

D. Challenge: Allow your participation with others in the body through the Christian Year to form you and others spiritually, living the disciplined life of Christ together in your daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal remembrances and emphases.

III. Embrace Tradition as God’s Proven Means to Root Your Community in Sharing Life in the “Already/not Yet” Kingdom

Finally, the rhythm of the Christian year, particularly that of the extraordinary season from Advent to Pentecost, would guide the Christian through a variety of times and emotions. As we have seen:

Advent is a time to wait . Christmas is a time to rejoice . Epiphany is a time to witness .

Lent is a time for repentance and renewal . The Great Triduum is a time to enter death . Easter is a time to express the resurrected life . After Pentecost is a time to study and evangelize .

Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Of course we are to do all of these Christian practices all of the time. But a rule of thumb is that a specific time set aside for each facilitates and empowers our Christian experience at all times. I am persuaded