Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

This week is such an exciting week! Easter was on Sunday, we are now kicking off the Easter Octave, the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist is this Friday, and we get two new saints this Sunday!

The culture around us tells us that Easter is simply a time where we need to believe in fluffy, candy-toting bunnies, and for everyone else, this is simply another excuse to stuff our faces with chocolate. But St. Mark might argue to the contrary.

Who was Mark, anyway?  For starters, St. Mark was a companion of St. Peter and was his interpreter and secretary.  St. Mark was never one of the 12 apostles, although he may have been one of the 70 disciples that were sent out by Jesus in the gospels.  Mark also had connections to St. Paul since his cousin, Barnabas, was one of the Paul’s travelling companions. St. Mark probably wrote his gospel at the request of the Romans, who wanted Peter’s account of Jesus’ life, around the year 60.  Mark’s gospel predates the other 3 gospels and it is likely the Luke and Matthew used Mark’s gospel as an outline for theirs.  There are often 4 symbols that are attributed to the four Gospel writers; Mark’s symbol is a winged lion.  The winged lion has many meanings: Mark’s gospel really portrays Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and his gospel begins with St. John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness, much like a lion would during that time.  The wings are meant to symbolize the spiritual loftiness of the gospel.  St. Mark’s relics can still be seen in Venice today at the Cathedral of St. Mark.

If you have been doing something for Lent, the significance of Easter is truly beautiful – much more beautiful than bunnies and chocolate.  After training our bodies and our wills for the last 40 days, we are able to celebrate the Resurrection in true joy!

What’s that you say? Lent didn’t go so well this year? You caved too many times? You didn’t figure out what you were doing until Holy Week?

Well, Lent should have taught you a few things, and developing a will of iron is not at the top of the list.

Here are some things that Lent taught me that definitely carry over into the Easter season:

1. I am loved, no matter what I do or how I mess up.
2. Forgiveness is always an option.
3. I can’t do anything on my own, but I need to rely on God for everything.
4. When I fall under the weight of my cross, I need to act like Jesus and get back up.

Easter is a time of joy.  We shouldn’t be kicking and beating ourselves over a poorly done Lent.  From St. Mark’s perspective, the Apostles are portrayed as cowards who ran at the first sign of trouble.  They were cowering in a small room, afraid of the Jews and Romans.  Their “Lent” was a time of failures! And yet, it is in the joy of the Resurrection that everything makes sense! Jesus rose, and that’s all that mattered – they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and (with the help of the Holy Spirit) were able to convert the world with their newfound joy.

So, Lent didn’t go so well? Relax, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go convert the world anyway!