In the opening pages of his book Great Lent Journey to Pascha the well-known and influential Orthodox priest, theologian, and author, Fr. Alexander Schmemann writes:
“As we make the first step into the “bright sadness” of Lent, we see—far, far away—the destination. It is the joy of Easter, it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom. And it is this vision, the foretaste of Easter, that makes Lent’s sadness bright and our Lenten effort a “spiritual spring.” The night may be dark and long, but all along the way a mysterious and radiant dawn seems to shine on the horizon.”
This short opening paragraph quickly caught my attention thanks to two simple words, “bright” and “sadness.” I could not help but think, what does Fr. Schmemann mean by bright sadness? I have never heard of anyone that considered sadness to be bright. Think about it, some of the saddest moments of our lives come with great darkness, pain, discomfort, stress, and mourning – none of which seem to come with any glimpse of light, let alone brightness. Is bright sadness meant to be an oxymoron, or is it possible to have such a thing as bright sadness?
It’s truly fascinating to contemplate the concept of “bright sadness” as described by Fr. Schmemann. The juxtaposition of these two seemingly contradictory words challenges our conventional understanding of sadness and invites us to delve deeper into the complex nature of human emotions. In essence, “bright sadness” may be interpreted as a state of being where the profound awareness of sorrow and penitence is infused with a glimmer of hope, a hint of spiritual illumination amidst the darkness. Is this not exactly where the season of Lent leads us?
Within the context of Lent, “bright sadness” suggests a transformative journey that encompasses both the acknowledgment of human frailty and the anticipation of spiritual renewal. The season of Lent is intended to guide us into the desert with Jesus. We are summoned to set aside the comforts that constrain us and urged to venture beyond our familiar territories, embracing practices such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that compel us to make changes in our lives. These changes are not meant to be effortless or comfortable. Jesus, when driven into the wilderness by the Spirit, was certainly not at ease – as he lived among wild beasts and was tempted by Satan (Mk 1:12-15). There was absolutely no comfort for Jesus – or the people who loved and followed him – during his trail, passion, and crucifixion. None of these moments were bright … were they?
While not typically characterized as “bright,” moments of light did shine during Jesus’ time of exile in the desert, his suffering, and his death. These instances of light stemmed from Jesus’ profound love for his people and his Heavenly Father – the same Father who is our creator and God. Despite the unbearable and unjust agony, suffering, and torment Jesus endured on the path to Golgotha (or Calvary in Latin), he must have felt the love of the women who wept for him, or the compassion of Veronica who bravely stepped forward to wipe his blood-stained face. Jesus was undoubtedly aware of the love that his Mother Mary held for him, even as her own heart was pierced with profound sorrow; a sorrow that held a glimmer of light (certainly not in the moment) for the future. Fr. Schemann astutely conveys this concept, describing the bright sadness as “the sadness of my exile, of the waste I have made of my life; the brightness of God’s presence and forgiveness, the joy of the recovered desire for God, the peace of the recovered home.” While Good Friday was filled with sadness (and darkness) it was a necessary sadness that brought about an abundance of light – everlasting light and life!
We are now about a week into Lent, how are things going for you? Have you already stepped out of your comfort zone to go out into the dessert with Jesus or are you still sitting and enjoying all your normal comforts? There are no excuses – we all still have plenty of time! Go out in search of the “bright sadness” that is sure to lead you to Easter joy.
Peace & Bright Sadness!
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