The Holy Calendar

At church this morning, our pastor addressed the upcoming events in the church's calendar, namely Advent, or as he put it, "the church's new year." His short discussion reminded me of how radically different than church's calendar is as compared to, for lack of a better term, our secular calendar. Here are a few of the poignant differences.

The church's calendar begins with Advent. The preparation for the birth of our Lord marks the chance for the church to be reborn and to begin anew walking with Christ to the cross. Christmas is of course the end of the year in the secular calendar, and I doubt that many non Christians understand what Advent is really about. New Year's is a time to make "resolutions" that everyone knows will not last more than a week.

In January, the church celebrates Epiphany, marking the time when the wisemen visited Jesus. Epiphany is also marked by the Mount of Transfiguration, where it is revealed to the disciples who Christ really is. The Orthodox Church views Epiphany as their high holiday (like our Christmas) for it marks the point when Christ is introduced to the East. January is a horrible month in the secular calendar, one to merely get through.

In March, the church begins a season of preparation called Lent. It is a time of sacrifice, of renting the body that we might be conformed to Christ as he makes his way to the cross. For the church knows that there is no Easter without Good Friday. In the secular calendar, March is typically the time of Spring Break, when the headonistic fantasies of college students are played out. If you don't believe me, tune into MTV this March. Its troubling to say the least.

In early April, the church celebrates the high point of her year, Easter. The celebration of when her Lord has risen and has given true meaning to our lives. The celebration of the beating down of death. And we sing the wonderful hymn of faith: "Lives again our glorious King; where, oh death, is now thy sting? Dying once, he all doth save; where thy victory, oh grave?" Easter in the secular calendar is a time to look for eggs.

50 days after Easter, the church celebrates Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit when we are given the first fruits of the Kingdom, when we are assured that even though Christ has ascended, God is with us. He is in our hearts. Roughly the same time in the secular calendar is the beginning of summer, which is truly the high point of the secular year.

Interestingly though, after Pentecost, the church enters into what I believe is called "Common Time." We rest in the knowledge during those days that Christ has risen and that God is with us in his Spirit. The next celebration of the church comes on the Sunday before Advent, Christ the King Sunday, where Christ is celebrated as the true King.

If you notice, the church's calendar is stark opposite of the secular calendar. When the secular calendar ends, the church's begins. When the secular calendar reaches its high point, the church is in rest. To me it is a beautiful reminder of how God, by coming into this world as a human, has sanctified time and made it his own. All those who follow Christ are a part of this holy time. Ours is a different calendar because ours is a different reality.

As my friend and pastor JD Walt said to me once, it ought to give us pause that we are much more familiar with the secular holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, etc. - than we are with the church's holidays.

As Advent nears, I encourage everyone to set aside some time to truly prepare to be reborn with Christ. And spend this next year walking with Christ in His time. You might find yourself at a cross while the rest of the world indulges. But then you might find yourself walking out of a tomb. In the words of that same Easter hymn: "Soar we now where Christ hath led; following our exalted head. Made like him, like him we rise; ours the cross, the grave, the skies."