Day 2: Eucatastrophe
Eucatastrophe, a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien of The Lord of the Rings fame, describes one of the central paradoxes of the Christian faith: Namely, that redemption occurs in moments of crisis, discord, and catastrophe. Tolkien saw this reality throughout Scripture, from Nathan’s indictment of King David (“You are the man!”) to the centurion’s declaration at Calvary (“Surely this man was the Son of God!”), and the Oxford professor readily employed this convention in his prose. Gollum viciously attacks poor Frodo (spoiler alert!) to the salvation of Middle Earth. That which is torn is mended. That which is undone is made perfectly done. For Tolkien, such moments (historical and fictitious) are intimations of Jesus’ resurrection: the ultimate Eucatastrophe. The cross, the shame and scandal of the world, is made beautiful before our eyes.
Read:
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Question to Consider:
How does the following passage from The Lord of the Rings capture the reality and paradox of eucatastrophe?
And when Sam heard that he laughed aloud for sheer delight, and he stood up and cried: ‘O great glory and splendour! And all my wishes have come true!’ And then he wept.
And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness. —The Return of the King
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, grant us a spirit of joyful expectancy, to wait for your redemptive purpose to unfold even in the midst of the crisis and storm.
By Dr. Jeremiah Webster