I'm pleased Lent is over this year, and not just for Easter Alleluias and Cadbury dark chocolate eggs.
It was hard Lent. Naturally, part of it wasn't about Lent. The news is usually bad, reminding us why we need to save. Someone must save this awful, damaged world. I need salvation.
This may not be true for you, but my Lent was exceptionally hard because I couldn't keep my resolves. None were difficult, by the way. Each sacrifice required diligence, which was difficult this year.
I love St. John Chrysostom's Easter reflection. The Eastern and Western churches admire him for many reasons. But this Easter homily remark proclaiming the time to celebrate shows his Christ-like love for our lowly humanity.
“Rich and poor rejoice together as you receive your reward! Enjoy the day sober and lazy! You who fasted and those who didn't rejoice today since the Table is full! Eat the fatted calf royally. No one should go hungry. Drink the faith cup. Enjoy His abundant goodness! Since the universal kingdom has been disclosed, let no one lament his poverty. No one should lament his repeated falls, for mercy has risen from the grave.”
“Forgiveness has risen from the grave,” so “you that have kept the fast, and you that have not,” celebrate together. All of us: Those who struggled this Lent. We kept our resolutions with gritted teeth and hushed groaning. Those of us who sacrificed with prayer and joy.
St. Chrysostom believes Easter rewards us all. Lent is helpful because it reminds us of the Lord's suffering and sacrifice for us. However, that sacrifice was made for us, and today we may celebrate his resurrection and conquest of death during Easter.
I propose an Easter resolution: Don't forget Easter quickly. The Lent desert lasted 40 days. Let us celebrate for 40 days like St. Chrysostom did. Bring out Cadbury eggs! Celebrate with special foods! Appreciate this, the largest church feast, as a blessing. There will be more Lents. There's one Easter event. Please remind this troubled planet that there is a happy ending.
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