Allusion

Hum, not the best title. It was the most difficult literary term I taught eighth graders. On their level, it is the word or phrase or happening that most people recognize and it has nothing to do with illustration though even in May some still tried to answer an essay question with a drawing. In recognizing moments of spiritual import to various religions I can nod my head to Ramadan, Diwali, Passover, and for me more personally, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. The word becomes a trunk to support branches and leaves as a deeper expansion of knowledge is added. My Easter base was a formula to know: The first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. That sentence ties the celebration to a day of the week, the historical connection to Judaism, and a season of the year. Wednesday, April 5, a full moon lighted the sky pinpointing April 9 as the designated day for 2023.

As always, symbols can add or distract depending on how they are offered or, in some cases, how much money is generated. In a far off time, Easter eggs were dyed only red to represent blood. Not in my day. Dying was a mixture of home made dye and then buying packets. My favorite memory is clipping comic strips and transferring to the egg. Hunting was a lot of running around, someone getting a prize, and eventually an egg throwing contest until some grown-up stepped in to stop it. Easter lilies and butterflies can tie to new life. Rabbits and chicks are just cute and sound like a good gift idea temporarily. New clothes are supposed to bring luck. Truthfully, the time had come to prepare for another season and Easter is an acceptable time.

All that aside, Palm Sunday to Easter is my most meaningful week of a year. I don’t have to decorate the house and a meal together is a pleasure – and may vary from picnics to linen napkins. Activities involve children, music, gatherings for worship at times that are part of predefined schedule. The darkness when the symbolic Christ Candle is blown out at a Service of Shadows opens the way to real rejoicing when light leads the way down the aisle to a full voice congregation singing, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” Soon after creation, the allusion began to be noted and it moved to a glorious celebration when Jesus on earth said, “It’s time!”

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Luke 19:51