Someone sent this photo taken during the Easter Liturgy in a Russian church. The congregation is very serious. Maybe they have been taught to look emotionless (or even gloomy) during prayer. Or maybe they have worked hard all day and have only their fatigue and their troubles to bring to the night-time liturgy. Maybe the picture was taken during a tedious and too long sermon.
Anyway, some dad has put his delightful three year old up on his shoulders so she can see above the rows of adults, and she has broken out into Easter Joy. Here is the Collect (opening prayer) for Mass this past Sunday.
May your people exult for ever, O God; in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection.
I remember the catechism lessons preparing me for my First Holy Communion in the 1950's. The story of creation - the beauty, the wonder. But then the story took a sad turn and we were taught about Original Sin and the personal sin which follows and verifies the original big one. Then the religion became morose and the word sin and its near occasions started to appear everywhere, and the soul-desire to live in God's beauty, imagination and wonder was left uncultivated.
This little girl really gets it. No one has had to teach her. Her religion hasn't become cerebral-ized. (I made up a word). She clearly isn't mimicking the congregation. Her soul (inner person) is clean and clear. She might see things we no longer see: Does she see the light of Christ's Resurrection? Does she see the angels who announced, "He is not here" to the Myrrh-Bearing women? Does she feel the original joy and wonder of the Easter Witnesses?
Her arms are like wings carrying her off. She's assumed a liturgical posture called an orans - like a priest standing at the altar. Her eyes, hands and mouth are wide open in receptivity: "Feed me, O Christ, Death-Trampler; Life-Restorer." She's all spontaneity and freedom. Will a day come soon when she's told, "Shhh. Stand with your hands at your side."
And we might ask ourselves: Is there any exuberance for God in my life? When did I feel it last? Was it a very long time ago? What has happened to it? We might ask the little girl to help us feel this psalm (67)
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Let the people's praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
