O Happy Fault

We Catholic Christians are in Holy Week right now, and just entered the Easter Triduum.  I haven't focused on this week terribly much blog-wise as of yet, partly because last year was so... intense.

But with today's theme, I couldn't think of a better topic to reflect on then the tremendous paradox sung in the Exsultet on the biggest feast of the year: the Easter Vigil (yes that's this Saturday night, so I'm a little ahead of myself.)  

"O happy fault, that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer."

That just always made me say, "Wow."  Something so good and something so bad, with God bringing great good out of great evil. Like it says in Scripture: "Where sin abounded, grace did more abound." Romans 5:20 For the full theological treatise on the phrase, see Aquinas. :)

How many times has God brought good out of evil in our lives? And I wonder how He will continue to do so... I definitely experienced that last year.  I'm not sure I'm at the point where I could say "O happy loss," but I rejoice that my daughter is experiencing "so great and so glorious" a life right now.  Sorrow and joy entwined, to become pure joy in the future. 

Speaking of "O's," here's the song that will be sung in churches around the world tonight, Holy Thursday, as we celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist. I particularly enjoy being Catholic during this time of year...

"O Job, stand and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14