Thought and Prayer of the Day
by Deacon Gary Gannon
October 16, 2025
Often, the passage of time seems endless. We Canadians likely feel this way around late February when the wonder of the first snowfall seems like a distant memory and the novelty of the new winter coat we bought in the first crisp days of autumn has vanished. You may have also experienced a lengthy passage of time years ago when taking your family on an extended road trip. Oh, the excitement everyone felt in loading their belongings into the trunk of the car; making sure that the kids had things with which to occupy themselves; and confirming that all the necessary roadmaps (I’m dating myself here) were readily available for the inevitable queries about new routes to be taken. These rarified emotions, however, seemed to dissipate after only a few hours on the road!
I clearly remember once being at a loss at what to suggest to our two young ones sitting in the back seat on the long drive to visit my parents in northern Ontario. The aura of relative sibling calm, aided by one or two short pit stops at McDonalds, began to wane around Sturgeon Falls. The one trick still up my sleeve was to suggest to the kids, “Start looking for the smokestacks!” This meant we were getting closer to grandma’s and grandpa’s house. The key was to sparingly use this distraction, at this point, as we still had some distance to travel.
Our earthly seasons are not perfectly aligned with the liturgical ones set by the church. Sometimes the passage of certain church seasons can also seem endless – particularly that of Pentecost. This season begins on Pentecost Sunday and for many Protestant denominations – including Lutherans, Anglicans and Methodists – it is a long period lasting many weeks until the start of Advent in late November or early December. It is not uncommon for someone to ask at this time of year, “What week after Pentecost is this?” (Note: referring to my trusty Canadian Church Calendar [Anglican edition], this Thought and Prayer is presented during the eighteenth week after Pentecost – only six more to go).
How might one pass time in this current liturgical period? What may we look at to keep ourselves interested in our spiritual journey? My experience with the newly-formed Men’s Bible Study group this year suggests you explore the miracles or parables of Jesus presented throughout the Pentecost season. Biblical scholars cite a range of 24 to 37 recorded miracles performed by our Lord. The exact number of Jesus’ parables is not definitively known, as the total varies depending on the source and the definition used, but most lists range from about 35 to 40 stories. Examples of either a miracle or parable usually appear on any given Sunday during Pentecost, but don’t let the calendar constrain you; find your favourite example to read, ponder and perhaps share your thoughts with someone else. Our Bible Study group seems to enjoy this sharing of the impact their chosen example has made on them. If you are looking for someone to share your choice with – send it my way. Let’s make the trip enjoyable. Thanks be to God.
Prayer
Lord, I ask for Your light to illuminate my path. Remove any confusion or doubt that clouds my mind and give me a clear vision of the steps I need to take. Fill my heart with Your peace, knowing that You are guiding me every step of the way. Amen.
