- Dec 22, 2017
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Tension/release. It’s a pattern we see in every song, every story, every area of life. Think of your favorite song; notice the part where energy is building, building, building, then RELEASE, often into the chorus, the most memorable part of the song, the heart of the message of the whole song. The victory of any story is made meaningful by the struggle beforehand; the endless appeal of sports, gambling, and any competition is the suspense of wondering how it will end. The ending is memorable, the goal that is strived for the whole time; it is the tension beforehand that makes the ending magnificent. Boring stories or games have little tension; a victory means much more when the build-up is more intense.
Lent for 40 days...penance, Confession, giving up something on Earth to be a little more prepared for letting it all go when we are called out of this world entirely. Then we have Good Friday as the penitential climax, followed by a day of awkward waiting, then BOOM!! Easter Sunday hits, and everyone can rock! The fast is lifted, the sorrow is no more, every tear is wiped away as we rejoice in our Risen Lord!
Having this celebration at the end of Lent gives me a renewed appreciation, not just for Easter, but for the Lenten season. While penance is part of the Christian life, joy is the focal point. Christ was crucified, but he remains risen. We are part of the Body of Christ. We suffer, but our permanent state will one day be risen, sharing in the joy of the Resurrection, celebrating the blissful eternity that comes from a faith kept to the end. Good penance helps us get there, but the hope of what is to come & what is already present in Christ should propel us to far more joy than any pains of this temporary life. Lent is shorter than Eastertime for a reason.
Tension/release is an ubiquitous pattern in this world, but even more fundamental is complementarity. Things are meant for each other. Examine a flower all you want, but it won’t make sense without the ground, sun, and air. Examine a human, but it won’t make sense without other humans. Examine penance, but it won’t make sense without a greater good at the end. Examine celebration, but it won’t make sense without an overcome obstacle beforehand.
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity
consider; God has made the one as well as the other...”
Ecclesiastes 7:14
consider; God has made the one as well as the other...”
Ecclesiastes 7:14
All of this is a little more compact than I typically like to write, but in effort to be hired as a freelance writer for the Catholic newspaper near me, I'm trying to tweak this article to be a good thing to submit. Word count is always a major factor; not sure what the count will be for this paper, but generally less is more with the journalism industry. So any respectful critique of this article will be much appreciated, as well as prayers for other good writers to answer the quest for helping others through writing.
Thank you all...may we never forget the true meaning of Lent, Easter, and life.
