“And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”This bit of biblical foreshadowing points to an uncomfortable implication of the incarnation. giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.” For Tolkien, this moment “rends . Even when — in the midst of grief or suffering — it cannot be a source of happiness, it can be a source of hope. It means that the cruel appearances of life are the lies, and that joy and grace are the deeper realities. It means that God is with us, that God is for us, even when we feel forsaken, especially when we feel forsaken.

Source: Washington Post December 25, 2017 00:11 UTC