Reflections: Septuagesima

Septuagesima Sunday has passed, the first of the three pre-Lenten weeks (meaning c. "70 days out"(till Resurrection Sunday)) and so we've begun orienting ourselves toward Easter in the Church Year. It's come comparatively quickly this year and part of me has been saying, "Too fast! Couldn't we have had more green? (Epiphanytide)."

It's now Wednesday, and while my discomfort had only been moderate, I've been praying, and am more at peace. There need not be more time between Christmas and Easter. In fact, even less time, less distance, would not perturb me now. Christmas and Easter are close in every significant way. Geographically, Bethlehem is a suburb of Jerusalem: they are close neighbors. What real distance is there between the two? Cosmically, the stable and cross are intertwined:
Incarnation, Passion.
Joy, Suffering.
Salvation, Salvation.
Love.