How the Joy of the Easter Season Works at Work
As with Christmas, joy fills the Easter Season. We have every reason to rejoice as we witness Christ's Resurrection. But sometimes it's a bit hard to keep our joy alive throughout the Easter Season.
Traditionally, that Season runs from Easter, really through the Saturday after Pentecost. It's forty days until the Ascension, another ten until Pentecost, then six more days after. That's a lot of joy.
While my intellect can grasp that it's a joyful time, my emotions don't always reflect that. Of course, what I'm feeling at any particular moment isn't so important for our spiritual lives. We can lead recollected, prayerful lives without always "feeling holy."
But there's nothing wrong with seeking a special shot of joy during the Easter Season. The spirit of rejoicing characterizes our liturgy. Our liturgy connects directly with our everyday lives. If you're not sure how that works, just recall Lent. For 40 days the Liturgy was bereft of "Allelujiahs." It led us on a spiritual journey towards Calvary. Reflecting this, we incorporated special prayers, penance, and almsgiivng as a central focus of our daily lives, even including our time at work
With the arrival of Easter, we again hear "Alleluias." And, again, we're looking at forty days, from the Resurrection to Ascension Thursday. After that, we add another ten days until Pentecost. In the traditional calendar, we even include eight days of the Octave of Pentecost. We're not even half way through this glorious season of joy. And lest you think this joy of Easter isn't as important to the health of your soul as the rigors of your Lenten discipline, consider this Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom:
"If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense."
Notice how calls on us to enjoy, to rejoice. Notice also how our rejoicing serves as a recompense - a reward - for our efforts during Lent.
At work, perhaps we incorporated some particularly intense mortification into our work day during Lent. Now we've eased up a bit. Enjoy that easing up, your reward for your past efforts.
Don't we do this in our daily work? It's not uncommon, when you've had a particularly difficult stretch of intense effort, to reward yourself, right? Maybe you've had to work longer days, staying late to finish an important project. When you're finished, maybe you leave earlier. Maybe you celebrate after work with your team. You reward yourself.
But St. John now shows us that the joy of Easter goes beyond simple reward for something we've done. Even those of us who haven't put out all that much effort during Lent are deemed worthy of the joy of Easter.
"If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first."
So take heart, even if your Lenten discipline was on the lax side. Easter joy has come for you too! It's a bit like a bonus formula that rewards the individual based on the overall efforts of the group. For some, it can seem unfair that the guy who didn't seem to work a long and hard as you did gets the same reward. Maybe it is. But you don't really expect that laggard to turn down his bonus, do you?
Easter joy works something like that. As we'll see next time, it's freely and generously given to us by a loving and merciful God each and every year.
Traditionally, that Season runs from Easter, really through the Saturday after Pentecost. It's forty days until the Ascension, another ten until Pentecost, then six more days after. That's a lot of joy.
While my intellect can grasp that it's a joyful time, my emotions don't always reflect that. Of course, what I'm feeling at any particular moment isn't so important for our spiritual lives. We can lead recollected, prayerful lives without always "feeling holy."
But there's nothing wrong with seeking a special shot of joy during the Easter Season. The spirit of rejoicing characterizes our liturgy. Our liturgy connects directly with our everyday lives. If you're not sure how that works, just recall Lent. For 40 days the Liturgy was bereft of "Allelujiahs." It led us on a spiritual journey towards Calvary. Reflecting this, we incorporated special prayers, penance, and almsgiivng as a central focus of our daily lives, even including our time at work
With the arrival of Easter, we again hear "Alleluias." And, again, we're looking at forty days, from the Resurrection to Ascension Thursday. After that, we add another ten days until Pentecost. In the traditional calendar, we even include eight days of the Octave of Pentecost. We're not even half way through this glorious season of joy. And lest you think this joy of Easter isn't as important to the health of your soul as the rigors of your Lenten discipline, consider this Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom:
"If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense."
Notice how calls on us to enjoy, to rejoice. Notice also how our rejoicing serves as a recompense - a reward - for our efforts during Lent.
At work, perhaps we incorporated some particularly intense mortification into our work day during Lent. Now we've eased up a bit. Enjoy that easing up, your reward for your past efforts.
Don't we do this in our daily work? It's not uncommon, when you've had a particularly difficult stretch of intense effort, to reward yourself, right? Maybe you've had to work longer days, staying late to finish an important project. When you're finished, maybe you leave earlier. Maybe you celebrate after work with your team. You reward yourself.
But St. John now shows us that the joy of Easter goes beyond simple reward for something we've done. Even those of us who haven't put out all that much effort during Lent are deemed worthy of the joy of Easter.
"If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first."
So take heart, even if your Lenten discipline was on the lax side. Easter joy has come for you too! It's a bit like a bonus formula that rewards the individual based on the overall efforts of the group. For some, it can seem unfair that the guy who didn't seem to work a long and hard as you did gets the same reward. Maybe it is. But you don't really expect that laggard to turn down his bonus, do you?
Easter joy works something like that. As we'll see next time, it's freely and generously given to us by a loving and merciful God each and every year.
Happy Easter!
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