The Resurrection was the greatest ‘eucatastrophe’ possible in the greatest Fairy Story — and produces that essential emotion: Christian joy which produces tears because it is qualitatively so like sorrow, because it comes from those places where Joy and Sorrow are at one, reconciled, as selfishness and altruism are lost in Love.
Interpretation
The Resurrection symbolizes a profound transformation that blends joy and sorrow, reflecting deep emotional experiences.
In this quote, J.R.R. Tolkien presents the Resurrection as the ultimate 'eucatastrophe', a term he coined to describe a sudden and favorable turn of events in a story, particularly one that elicits deep emotional responses. He emphasizes that true joy often coexists with sorrow, highlighting that profound experiences, such as the joy that arises from the Resurrection, emerge from the reconciliation of conflicting emotions, paralleling the intertwining of selfishness and altruism within the concept of love.
In practice
In a sermon on Easter Sunday, illustrating the blend of joy and sorrow in the Christian faith.
All the same, I should like it all plain and clear," said he obstinately, putting on his business manner (usually reserved for people who tried to borrow money off him), and doing his best to appear wise and prudent and professional and live up to Gandalf's recommendation. "Also I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time required and remuneration, and so forth"--by which he meant: "What am I going to get out of it ? and am I going to come back alive?
Go not to the Elves for counsel,_x000D_ for they will say both no and yes._x000D_ Elves seldom give unguarded advice,_x000D_ for advice is a dangerous gift,_x000D_ even from the wise to the wise,_x000D_ and all courses may run ill.
What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!
Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so his foes shall fall. The sword is sharp, the spear is long, The arrow swift, the Gate is strong; The heart is bold that looks on gold; The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong. The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fells like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells. -from The Hobbit (Dwarves Battle Song)
The chief purpose of life, for any of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.
Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.
We are bound by nothing except belief.
Give me a different set of mothers and I will give you a different world
Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.
Americanism is not a matter of skin or color.
A chair is the first thing you need when you don’t really need anything, and is therefore a peculiarly compelling symbol of civilization. For it is civilization, not survival, that requires design.
The performance of black American identity feels very different from actually living in a black body. There's a dissonance between inside and outside.
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