Bright sadness doesn’t make sense if we look at it from a worldly perspective. But if we view it through a Biblical lens, it can take on a deep meaning. In Greek, it is the compound noun “charmolypê, variously translated “bitter joy,” “joyful mourning,” or “affliction that leads to joy.” It is a good description of the Season of Lent. A time of darkness, repentance, or mourning that leads to the joy in the resurrection of our Lord! The Son rising on Easter morning!

The following is an illustration about Lent that our pastor shared with us at our Ash Wednesday service last night. If you place a diamond on a multi-colored cloth with a design, the beauty of the diamond is lost in the busyness of the cloth. That is why diamonds are traditionally placed on a black velvet cloth, so you can see the exquisite beauty of the diamond. In our daily lives, Jesus can become lost in our busyness and can be replaced by personal idols. Lent is a time for us to remove our worldly desires and idols and focus upon the most important thing in our lives, which is Jesus Christ. It is a time when we place Jesus upon a black velvet cloth so we can focus upon Him.

I am addicted to candy, cookies, and other sweet treats. These things distract me and sway my desires and control my actions. They take my focus away from my savior. What distracts you from Jesus? That is what you should give up during Lent. When we desire what we have given up, it is an opportunity for us to remember Jesus and what He has done for us. As we approach Easter, all of us need to focus upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—the pain, the suffering, and the sadness which leads to His resurrection, the brightness, and the joy. This is a season of “Bright Sadness.”