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Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Marriage: the Light of the World”
Homily by Fr. Greg Bierbaum, pastor -
What is “Ordinary Time?”
Q: What do we mean by “Ordinary Time?”
After the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord last Sunday, we left the Christmas season behind and once again entered what the Church calls Ordinary Time. But what does that mean?
Ordinary Time is the period on the Church calendar outside of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. It is broken into two blocks: the days between Christmas and Lent, and the days between Easter and Advent. Before the 1969 reforms, these periods were called Time after Epiphany and Time after Pentecost, respectively (in some traditions, time was counted after Trinity Sunday). For various reasons—including the complexity of the older calendar—the Church opted to combine these periods under a single heading.Here, we might note that the term “Ordinary Time” does not appear in the Latin typical editions of the liturgical books. The original term used is Tempus per Annum, or “time through the year.” Even the first vernacular edition labeled the period “Season of the Year.” In fact, it’s not entirely clear how “Ordinary Time” came to be used. 1
Today, we tend to define “ordinary” as meaning “plain” or “dull,” but this is not what the Church intends. Rather, “ordinary” here means “as expected” or “customary,” as opposed to “extraordinary.” The Sundays and weekdays of Ordinary Time are not marked by a focus on a single aspect of Christ’s life but are meant to encompass the whole mystery of His life. We are no longer in an extraordinary season of fasting or celebration, but have returned to our regular spiritual rhythms.²
So while we may miss the joy and festivity of the Christmas season, we are reminded that in our daily walk with Christ there need be no dull moments. He longs to meet us every day of the year.
Endnotes:
- Michael P. Foley, “The Mysterious Meaning of Ordinary Time,” New Liturgical Movement, February 20, 2020.
https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/02/the-mysterious-meaning-of-ordinary-time.html - Catholic Culture, “Our Ordinary Walk of Life: Understanding Tempus per Annum.”
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/our-ordinary-walk-life-understanding-tempus-per-annum/
- Michael P. Foley, “The Mysterious Meaning of Ordinary Time,” New Liturgical Movement, February 20, 2020.
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Homily for the Baptism of the Lord
“Because I’m God, and You’re Not… and I Love You!”
Homily for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, by Fr. Greg Bierbaum. -
Liturgy Notes: Does It Matter What We Sing at Mass?
Music is central to the celebration of Mass. Now, there are many forms of music, and no doubt you’ve heard various types of music at Mass. But is there any musical form that we can say is more fitting for Mass than others?
It turns out that, as with the use of Latin, the Church offers guidance for choosing music for Mass. “The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services” (Sacrosanctum concilium, section 116). In light of this, we incorporate Gregorian chant into our liturgies at St. Mark, especially in the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei).
Is this the only music we can use? No it’s not, but in the same section, the Council goes on to say, “But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action…” So, while there is room for individual judgment on selecting music, it’s clear the Council did not intend for just any musical form to be employed for the Holy Sacrifice. The Church has determined that Gregorian chant, polyphony, and other forms of music that share that same general spirit are most fitting.
At St. Mark, we have gone to great lengths to develop a beautiful sacred music program that fulfills the Church’s guidance, moves and inspires our congregation, and most importantly, gives the greatest glory to God. If you would like to learn more about how you can be part of this special ministry, please contact Director of Sacred Music Diana Corliss at dianac@stmarkhr.org, or visit stmarkhr.org/ministry/sacred-music.
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Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord
“The Star… and the Stars.” Fr. Greg Bierbaum (1/4/26)
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Homily for the Nativity of the Lord
Fr. Greg Bierbaum (12/25/25)
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Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent
Fr. Greg Bierbaum (12/21/25)
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What’s the Origin of the Advent Wreath?
Q: What’s the origin of the Advent wreath?
In many churches and homes, the start of the Advent season is marked by the appearance of the familiar evergreen wreath and four candles. Lighting the candles as the weeks of Advent progress—one candle the first week, two the second, and so on—is a cherished tradition for many Western Christians, often accompanied by prayers, Scripture reading, and hymn-singing. But where did this custom originate?
The precise origin of the Advent wreath is uncertain. Some believe it began in pre-Christian Europe, where people lit candles as a sign of warmth and light during the dark and cold month of December. The candles may also have symbolized hope in the eventual return of spring. According to some accounts, Christian missionaries later used this custom as a way to teach pagan peoples about Christ, the true light who enters a darkened world to bring salvation.
It was not until the 16th century in Germany that we find evidence of a candle-lighting custom being explicitly linked to the Church’s season of Advent. Some sources suggest that Lutherans developed the practice of lighting candles to mark the time until Christmas, while others note that a similar tradition could already be found among both Lutherans and Catholics.
What is more certain is that the Advent wreath as we know it today did not take shape until the 19th century. German theologian and educator Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881) is generally credited with devising the pattern of lighting an increasing number of candles to count down the days until Christmas. The number and color of the candles developed over time—and even today vary among Western Christian communities. In any case, the basic practice caught on among Catholics and Protestants alike and soon spread throughout Europe and North America.
If you’ve never brought this tradition into your home, it’s not too late to start. The Advent wreath brings together so many important elements: prayer, Scripture, hymn-singing, catechesis on the Incarnation, and the simple beauty and mystery of candlelight. It’s a wonderful place to begin praying together as a family, and it leaves children with fond memories and a lovely tradition they will be eager to pass on to their own families.
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Homily: 2nd Sunday of Advent
“What Do You Want for Christmas?”
Fr. Greg Bierbaum (Dec. 7, 2025) -
A Stirring Choral Tribute to Our Lady
On Nov. 16, the Choir of St. Mark presented Mass of the Americas, a complex and stirring choral tribute to Our Lady by contemporary composer Frank La Rocca.
We speak often about the importance of upholding the Church’s centuries-old sacred music tradition, but we should also remember that there is still beautiful music being written today. Mass of the Americas is an excellent case in point. Commissioned by the Benedict XVI Institute in Menlo Park, California, the work was intended for liturgical use, but more than holds its own as a stand-alone composition.
From the Benedict XVI Institute website:
Frank La Rocca’s Mass of the Americas was conceived by Archbishop Cordileone as a twinned tribute to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (patroness of the United States) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness of Mexico and all the Americas). It elevates much-loved Mexican folk hymns to Our Lady and includes possibly the first Ave Maria hymn ever composed in Nahuatl, the Aztec language Our Lady spoke to St. Juan (benedictinstitute.org/mota-2).
Directed by Diana Corliss and accompanied on organ by Zachary Stoughton, this challenging performance was hailed by one audience member as “sublime,” adding, “The artistry that you… have blessed us with at St. Mark is truly extraordinary!” It also demonstrated what is possible for sacred music at the parish level today.
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