Lent vs Easter

Why do we seem to put so much into Lent (extra prayers, fasting, works of mercy) and so little into Easter?

Easter is longer than Lent (50 days rather than 40 days) and clearly a more joyful season.  The problem appears to be (believe it or not) that we seem to hear the message of repentance more readily than the message of redemption.  Lent’s practices are penitential because they reflect our awareness that we have sinned, and as a result need to work at “making up” for the wrong we have done.  This is one of the hazard’s of Lent: we put a lot of emphasis on ourselves. What am I giving up? How much can I give to the poor? Both seasons should bring us closer to Jesus by focusing our attention on him.

In Lent we try to enter into his passion, his sacrifice for us.  Now when it comes to Easter, we really should do a better job of praising and thanking God for raising Jesus. Surely we enjoy things we gave up for Lent ( I have indulged in all that chocolate since last Sunday!)  But would it not be appropriate in Easter to simply face friends, families, …and even foes… with an extra smile, to express the joy that, despite what we might have done to hurt others, despite what others may have done to hurt us, despite all that, Jesus is risen with the gift of mercy and forgiveness. This is why Divine Mercy Sunday seems to have caught on as an Easter feast. We need to appreciate how kind and merciful Jesus is. Let us try to work a little harder at grasping his mercy and thus act a little more patiently, a little more compassionately, for the 50 days of this joyful Easter season.