A funny fellow asks a friend, "What's the shortest length of time?" "One second," the friend answers. "No," the funny guy says, "The space between when the traffic light turns green and the horn behind you honks." We understand. But it's pretty pathetic too.
At Easter, the Church is out of step with this impatient culture. Easter has an octave — too much to say and celebrate for one Sunday, so it overflows into eight days — then a further overflow to fifty. Here's a lovely, Eastern liturgical hymn which imagines an Easter morning angel announcing to the Mother of Jesus that her Son is risen from the dead.
The angel cried to the Lady full of grace:
Rejoice, O Pure Virgin!
Again I say:
Rejoice! Your Son is risen from his three days in the tomb!
With Himself He has raised all the dead!
Rejoice, all you people!
Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shown on you!
Dance now and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos,
in the Resurrection of your Son!
- The angel says it twice — again!
- And not only is Christ Risen but so are all the dead. Rejoicing is for everyone — the whole world.
- The Church, as New Jerusalem, is invited to bask in the bright-shining of Easter. We're supposed to be the ones who announce to the world what's true for everyone.
- Don't these brilliant Ukrainian eggs reflect that radiant shining: stylized crosses, a spotted galloping horse, encircling vines...
- We're invited even to dance for joy. Can we imagine? Zion is another word for Jerusalem.
- Jerusalem is an international city. How sad when we exclude. How un-Christly.
- Mary is addressed as Mother of God (Theotokos).
- There are nine exclamation points in the hymn's verses. I think of them as surprise marks! Are we numb to the Resurrection? Have we lost our sense of wonder, delight and surprise?
