Easter, Epiphany, The Equinox, & Everything In Between

THIS YEAR, I was blessed to learn a bit more about the backstory of Easter. And, it’s not the one you are usually told. This story was put into my heart through a series of church and life experiences.

I was invited to New Orleans at the end of January with the promise of a parade. I thought it would be fun and a good way to meet new people. I’d only flown three times prior, and I was flying solo. No worries, I got this. The taxi picked me up. The chorus of the tune playing went “We ain’t need no 5G, cause we in 5D”. I knew I was in for a trip.

NoLa

When I say New Orleans, you probably think Mardi Gras and Burbon Street. Both of which are certainly part of the culture, but there is more than meets the eye. The diverse history has close ties to the Caribbean and Catholicism, with a side of mysticism. French and Spanish influence can be seen reflected in the architecture and the omnipresent Fleur De Lis symbol. Rich African heritage remains intact, a stark reminder of slavery in Louisiana and the Deep South.

New Orleans is a colorful city saturated in symbolism and painted with gold, purple, and green. A quick Google search clued me in to the forgotten meaning behind the hues. Gold represents power. Purple represents justice. Green represents faith. How poetic; the color that represents nature also represents faith.

With all this fascinating history surrounding me, you might be surprised to hear that what really struck me was the Fat Tuesday bar on Burbon Street. What on earth is any Catholic reference doing in what is considered “perhaps the most hedonistic city in the United States”.^[wikipedia] Come hell or high water, I was about to find out. And down the rabbit hole I fell.

Epiphany Season

Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, but what kicks off Ash Wednesday? Enter Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the Lenten sacrifices. This festival originated with Italian Catholics in Europe, and was later spread by the French and Spanish. When they settled the Caribbean nations, this celebration came to be known as Carnival. In the Catholic faith, the Pre-Lenten season marks the period following Advent and leading up to Lent. Epiphany season begins January 6 and marks the official end of the Christmas season. It also kicks off Carnival season in New Orleans. So, Mardi Gras and Carnival are just big parties to prepare for Lenten sacrifices, a last round of good times before the start of a more somber season. I can get down with that. I mean, who can expect to make it through 40 days of fasting without a bit of pregaming? Glory to God!

When I returned home, I decided to see what else I could learn about the Lent tradition. I didn’t have a church I considered as my home-base, so I decided to do a church hop. I went from Catholic churches to Methodist churches, and even popped into a Unitarian church and a Buddhist temple. For the first time in my life, I went to Ash Wednesday service. I always sat in the back, listening to the sermons and taking mental notes along the way. I deeply resonate with Thich Naht Hahn’s view on religious life. “I do not see any reason to spend one’s whole life tasting just one kind of fruit. We human beings can be nourished by the best values of many traditions.”

Through the various sermons and teachings, I was struck by the pure and simple similarities between each religion. Thich Naht Hanh reminds us that “People kill and are killed because they cling too tightly to their own beliefs and ideologies. When we believe that ours is the only faith that contains truth, violence and suffering will surely be the result.” I have heard that all wars are fought on the basis of either greed or religion. How sad, and preventable.

Revelation- We’re Talking About The Same Thing

Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe in salvation by a God that loves unconditionally and forgives all sins. If only we could be so tolerant. By the grace of God, these three religions are forever tied together through the stories of our ancestors. Lest we forget, the Last Supper was a Passover meal. Lest we forget, Muslims who follow the Islam faith recognize Abraham, Moses, and Jesus as God’s prophets. In fact, Jesus and the Virgin Mary are mentioned more times in the Quran than in the New Testament. Sure, we can wax lyrical about all the differences between these religions, but what good does that do? I digress.

In the Hebrew calendar, Nisan is the first month of the religious new year. Passover begins with the first full moon of this month. Perhaps not so coincidentally, is also the time that the spring season kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere. Also not to be overlooked, the word Lent originates from Lenten which is derived from lengthen- a reference to the lengthening of daylight. How perfect that the Easter holiday is aligned with the rebirth of nature and the abundance promised by the Spring season.

John 3:17 says, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Two thousand years ago Jesus died on the cross for us so that the world may be saved. Still we wait. And in times like these, it feels like we have hit rock bottom. But once you hit the bottom, there is no where to go but up. Up, up, and away.

P.S. (For The Love Of Numbers)

Let’s wrap it all up with a bow: Lent is celebrated over a period of 40 days. Passover is also celebrated over a period of 40 days. The importance of the number 40 should not be overlooked. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days. It took the Israelites 40 years to find the Promised Land. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days. The bible was written by 40 authors. The number 40 appears 146 times in the scriptures.^{[biblestudy.org]}