No Foolin’
My family enjoys scaring me.
I told them that I read an article about how frightening someone can take a year off their life for each occurrence. (So at this point, I am convinced that I have lived WELL past my life expectancy in years). That hasn't helped. I try telling them that human hearts come with a limited capacity for being freaked out. That does not seem to phase them either.
To be clear, and as to not completely incriminate them, their sneaking up behind me, or waiting for me at the turn of the hallway, or leaving creepy crawly items in random drawers, is all in good fun. (Well, mostly all in good fun.) It is also true that I am an easy target and apparently it is hilarious to witness what kind of a scream comes out of my mouth at each scare.
It goes without saying that on a day like today, April 1st, I may be a little more jumpy than usual. Do you see the cross I have to bear?
All kidding aside…
Taking a joke on April Fools’ Day should be easier to do because it’s expected. Similar to how sacrifice and personal suffering should be easier to do during Lent because it’s expected. But is it easier to suffer during Lent?
I have been reflecting on this the past few days, and a comparison of how we are called to live during Advent and Lent came to mind. During both Liturgical seasons, we call to mind Jesus, but in very different ways. The same God-man is at the forefront of our prayer, worship, and Scripture, but two very different life events are celebrated. How we embrace each season comes with a very different mindset.
During Advent, we await the birth of Baby Jesus. How pleasant and joyful it is to prepare to behold a baby, to adore Him. As we unpack our Nativity sets and place the people and animals around where Baby Jesus will lay, there is a hope and anticipation for his arrival. My willingness to hold Baby Jesus comes with no cost to me. In fact, I gain peace, hope, and love when I settle down to reflect on the Nativity of Jesus.
As we journey through Lent now, we follow the same person, the same God-man. Except this time of year, we follow Jesus as a grown-up man, all the way to the end of his human life. Lent is a time of penance and sacrifice. We know this as we attempt to parallel our lives with the suffering of Jesus. Am I embracing Jesus and His Cross as willingly as I am holding Baby Jesus in the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree? It is a lot harder to embrace the suffering than to embrace the anticipation of the birth of a Savior.
And yet, we are called to do this during Lent. The toughest battle has already been won. It was won on the Cross. We are called to remember this and humanly attempt to join in this penitential season of Lent. What no human could have possibly done on their own for humanity, Jesus did for us. He bound up our wounds and paved the way for salvation. And that makes suffering during Lent a lot easier.
May your day be free of heart-stopping tomfoolery, and may your Lenten sacrifices be easier to bear.
