joy rendered

A "misery index" appears to be rising.

Though the original "misery index" - high unemployment and high inflation - is getting lower, a more recent "misery index" appears to be on the rise.  Unhappiness and mental distress are soaring, even as the standard of living is improving on so many fronts.  Though we could point to several cultural culprits to explain this paradox, we in the church can point to a missing element in our cultural life.

The Resurrection of Christ is a potent antidote in all sorts of misery indices,  This because it emerges from lengthy seasons of intense suffering, for Jesus, for His first disciples, and for disciples ever since.  The Resurrection doesn't smoothe over misery; but rather transforms it, much as Spring does the Winter in our part of the world.  The Resurrection is that powerful, that pervasive, not just in the life to come, but in the here and now.

An Easter hymn puts it this way, speaking of the Spring Season and Day of Resurrection:

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the Day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render.

The queen of seasons, filled with light, escorts us to the splendid Day of Christ, rendering, out of His suffering and death, and ours, a feast of joy irrepressible.

Let's capture this joy rendered from Christ's Cross, and allow The Resurrection to transform our misery index and that of others to whom we will render it.