The
fifty days following Easter are called Eastertide. During these days Christians celebrate
Easter. One of the ways we do that is to
keep our spirits connected to the joy of the resurrection. It takes about fifty days to take in the
wonder of God’s recreating work through the cross and the empty tomb of
Christ. Even though Easter was a little
early this year, some of us still have definite glimpses of spring to brighten
the season. I was out of town for a couple
of days, and it was as if spring fast- forwarded, transforming most of the
trees to that brilliant poppy green.
Once barren trees first budded with flowers, and now leaves too numerous
to count fill all the branches. We are
still in transition here in Dallas, but you can’t help but feel joy on a warm
sunny spring day.
This
same joy fills my heart. It glazes over
all the bitter circumstances that coexist with the joy. God fills this world of sorrow with glimpses
of joy. It is when we won’t let the joy
that exists around us into our souls that we give into the despair. Thomas Aquinas said: Everyone who wants to make progress in the spiritual life needs to have
joy (Commentary on the Letter to the
Philippians). Paul’s epistle of
joy—Philippians—was written from a prison cell in Rome. No doubt our suffering here on earth is harsh
and real. Because of God’s love poured
out on this sinful earth, souls receive joy that supersedes the harsh reality
of the world. The joy is taken in by the
soul first, then by the other senses.
Spring
is a wonderful season to practice the spiritual discipline of joy. During Eastertide, set apart one hour to sit
outside and take in everything that is going on around you. Watch the tiny ants scurrying on their
mission. Notice the blades of grass that
have turned green and rise up each in their own unique way to reach the sun. Notice how some still dormant blades of grass lag
behind yet are still vessels for life to come.
Listen for the birds the sound of bees buzzing around your
stillness. In the midst of whatever
chaos is going on in your life, you can find joy in God and in His
creation. Think about how the reality of
the resurrection is apparent everywhere you look in spring. Everything that seemed dead, lost and defeated
has become new, bursting with life, beauty and glory. Don’t let Easter joy get squelched by the burdens,
busyness and indifference of living
For the
fifty days of Eastertide, carry with you a song of joy in your heart. When you are met with bad news, consider it
joy that you are counted worthy to be tested about whether you can find
authentic joy. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).
Let
Eastertide point your soul toward the joy God hides on your path each day. Pick it up; praise God for it. Take it with you and you will find the
spiritual progress Aquinas was speaking of.
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