Ordinary Times Begin

Fifty days after the miracle of Christ’s resurrection, forty days beyond His ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven. The timing of Pentecost is not by accident, nor is it a fabrication of Christian teachings.

Remember, the Apostils, along with Mary, were in the upper room on that first Pentecost. Why? Why were they still in Jerusalem? Why together? It was in observance of Shavuot, meaning “weeks” For the Jewish people, this was the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost comes from the Greek word for “fifty”. Just as the Festival of Weeks is observed fifty days after the preceding holiday, Passover, Pentecost is fifty days after Easter Sunday. Christ was raised a Jew. His earlier followers were Jewish. Much of the tradition of Christianity is deeply rooted in the Jewish faith, with new meaning. The similarities between Jewish and Christian observances is most pronounced within the Catholic Church. The church has always held a deep connection and reverence for what came before.

The idea of the ascension of Holy Spirit did not shock Christ’s chosen. The Holy Spirit had been prophesied in sacred scripture. It was in fulfillment of this prophecy that Jesus promised the Apostles that the Father in heaven would send down a Helper in His name. This helper was to teach them in all things once He was no longer with them. These are the things we celebrate and remember on Pentecost Sunday. For Catholics, Pentecost Sunday is regarded as the birth of a New Covenant, a New Church, a New Relationship with God. Today the Easter Season draws to a close as Ordinary Times begin.

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Chicken Teriyaki
Teriyaki Sauce
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 tablespoon Cold Water
1 Garlic Cloves
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/4 cup Cider Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground Ginger
1 tablespoon Mirin
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 cup Pineapple Juice

Dissolve cornstarch in cold water. In a small saucepan over low heat, pour cornstarch mixture. Peel garlic, press into the slurry.

Add sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, Mirin, ground black pepper and pineapple juice. Increase to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently until sauce thickens and bubbles, about 20 minutes. Let sauce cool to room temperature.

Chicken
4 large boneless Chicken Thighs
2 tablespoons Oil
1/2 White Onion
1 cup Pineapple Chunks
2 Green Onions

Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Place in a bowl. Pour Teriyaki Sauce over the chicken pieces. Toss to coat. Let chicken marinade in the sauce for about 15 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, cut half an onion into slivers. Drain pineapple chunks. Trim green onions, slice and set aside.

Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Empty chicken along with all the sauce into the wok. Let sizzle for a few minutes to sear, then begin to stir fry.

After stir-frying for about 10 minutes, scatter onion slivers over the chicken. Stir into the mixture. Fry for 5 minutes longer. Add pineapple chunks, stir into the sauce. Scatter green onions over the chicken.

Lower heat, let simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened into a Teriyaki glaze.

Paella Bacon Fried Rice
4 strips Bacon
4 Green Onions
1 Package Sun-Bird Fried Rice Seasoning
2 tablespoons Soy Sauce or to taste
3 cups cooked White Rice (day-old best)
2 Eggs
Black Pepper to taste
1 Pinch Kosher Salt to taste

Note: If you don’t happen to have day-old white rice just sitting around, you could cook the rice in the morning, then make the fried rice that night.

Cut bacon into quarter-inch pieces. Scatter bacon into a Paella pan over medium-high heat. Cook bacon until crisp, stirring often.

While the bacon cooks, snip green onions and set aside. Empty package of Fried Rice Seasoning into a small bowl. Add soy sauce, whisk to blend and set aside.

Once the bacon is cooked, spread rice out in the pan. Season with a little salt and pepper. Fry rice in bacon drippings until rice is warmed through. Pour soy-seasoning mix over the rice. Stir to blend. Add eggs in the center. Let eggs cook just until the whites are beginning to set. Stir into the fried rice, Scatter green onions over the rice. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve Teriyaki Chicken with Paella Bacon Fried Rice and enjoy. Tea is a lovely beverage with this supper.

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Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth