Today is the day after Divine Mercy Sunday and the day after the Octave of Easter and I’m a little bummed.
This seems to be a common theme for me during this year’s Lent and Easter seasons.
Once the evening of the Easter Vigil along with Easter Sunday came, I was also bummed.
I felt like it was the early morning, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the flowers were doing flower things, everyone around me was awake and active, and I wanted no part of it. Let me keep the covers over my eyes.
I had just spent six weeks plus fasting, sacrificing, trying to pray more, trying to cut things out of my life that I didn’t need, and trying to take into consideration everything I was doing as a Catholic. I had gotten used to this penitential life. I wasn’t in a mood to celebrate. Let me keep the covers over my eyes.
Eventually, I caved and welcomed the Resurrection of the Lord and the Easter Bunny and feasted on the joy, wonder, and awe that is the Easter Octave.
I thought to myself that perhaps it was a small, small preview of what Heaven will be like — unrestrained love and joy, and possibly unrestrained eating and drinking potential as well.
But now, that’s over, and I feel lost.
It doesn’t have to end
Yes, the Easter season goes until Pentecost (June 5, this year, for those with their calendars out), but every day is no longer to be treated like a Sunday or a solemnity as last week was.
Back to eating “Happy Kevin Tuna Noodle Surprise” on Fridays (trust me, as a randomly-concocted dish, it’s actually pretty good).
But after pouring myself into Lent and pouring myself into Easter, I need to figure out what next to . . . pour? . . . myself into (ah, when metaphors fail and really make no sense).
For those like me, who felt they were gaining ground in their faith lives during Lent, and don’t really want to give up Lent for Easter (there’s a mind-bender), might I suggest we all treat Fridays as mini-Lents?
Many of us fall into the habit of just not eating meat on Fridays or just praying a Rosary so as to fill an obligation to do something “penitential” on Fridays.
We’re the same ones that say every year “I can’t wait for Lent to start” or “Lent came at the right time this year.”
Why wait?! Act now!
“Give up” something every Friday. Maybe even the same things you gave up for Lent or new ones that can’t wait. Pray more on Friday. Fast more on Fridays. Give more alms on Fridays. If Lent makes you better, do more Lent!
Then comes Sunday. Easter it up all year round! (Oh, this sounds like something “Go Make Disciples” would say.)
I know we can’t see all of our Christmas and Easter family and friends every Sunday, but we can still party like it’s 33.
It also doesn’t mean one must splurge on all of the foods every Sunday. We are still called to be good stewards to our Holy Spirit temples.
But we can celebrate in the Resurrection and sip that small taste of Heaven every Sunday.
Do the same things for big Holy Days and Solemnities (I need to work on this, especially the ones that fall on Fridays).
And what about the other five days a week? Live!
Know, love, and serve the Lord. Evangelize (as you are called to and blessed and gifted to). Love your neighbor. Get to know your neighbor. Acknowledge your neighbor. Confirm you have a neighbor (this could be a process for all of us). But always keep in mind we’re not in Heaven yet.
Only God’s graces help us come close to any sort of Earthy perfection, but we should always know we will not reach that until the end of time.
So, we need to be praying for His mercy, asking for His help, and helping those around us who are struggling to get there too.
Go forth and return to the ‘ordinary’
As easy as it sounds and is to wander in the desert now aimlessly with Easter over, we don’t have to do that.
If you find yourself either missing Lent or Easter — good! You’ve taken a few small steps to holiness over these past several weeks.
Share these feelings and experiences with others.
If your week isn’t going too well and you need either the dying-ness of Lent or the rising-ness of Easter, you’ve got opportunities to partake in them as the week goes on.
If others are wondering what you’re doing getting your Lent or Easter on during non-Lent and non-Easter parts of the year — also good!
That sounds like an excellent evangelization opportunity (hey, another “Go Make Disciples” prompt).
If the rest of the week feels like a Holy Saturday sort of crying, waiting, hoping for what’s next, that’s also good. That’s a way of being told something’s coming — the next Easter in your life.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.