This piece was first published in my private blog on March 30, 2010, the Tuesday of Passion Week, 2010. I publish it again today, the Monday of Passion Week this year 2014 — only this time it is a public post for one and all. The piece was originally titled ‘Passion’. What could be a more appropriate place for this post than this blog titled ‘The Show Must Go On’. The greatest show on earth occurred two thousand years ago on a Sunday that the modern world has christened as Easter Sunday. Original post follows:
Did you know the word ‘passion’ has more than one meaning? In modern English, it is a word used to denote an intense love or affection. We feel passionate about people, places, things, and ideas. But did you know that ‘passion’ also has an archaic definition of ‘suffering’? In particular, it is assigned to the physical agony and suffering of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
As a noun, it is also used as an event: this week in the Gregorian Calendar is traditionally marked as Passion Week. Two days from now, it will be Maundy Thursday, the day known to be Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, also known as the Last Supper. The following day, is called Good Friday: good, because death was swallowed up in victory and life eternal through the supernatural act of Jesus’ resurrection on the third day, also known as Easter.
Some time ago, I wrote a haiku, unknowingly at the time, that captured the dual meaning of the word: Love is pain is love, I had written…
The passion of our lives is very often one and the same. As is God’s passion for us. The haiku follows here:
Crushed between fingers / There is no line to be blurr’d / Love is pain is love!
For a pretty exhaustive account of the origins of the events known as the Passion, including its influences on art, literature, music and theatre, click right here for a Wiki entry.
Wise and moving words – you do a wonderful job of weaving together the two seemingly contradictory meanings of a single powerful word. Very inspiring!
Thank you, I hope that it is thought-provoking. I know it is to me each time I read it, even though this was penned five years ago.
Re-reading your thoughtful reflection on passion, to mark this Good Friday. That haiku continues to intrigue me. And it seems you anticipated the Robin Thicke song by a few years. 😊 Have a blessed day!
Many thanks, as always. You’ll have to educate me on the Robin Thicke song… as for the haiku, it was inspired by the plum tree blossoms – there is a picture of it toward the very end of the post. Unfortunately, that plum tree has died, but I so loved its spectacularly shameless blossoms every year for a dozen years — this time of year actually…
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh blurred lines. of course. 🙂
So wonderful to read this again this year and be reminded of the connection between love and passion and our need to continually be open to accepting both realities as part of life. Thank you for re-posting!
Many thanks for your annual reading and appreciation as well! God bless you!
Still one of your best posts ever. Thanks for reminding us of this again.
I do appreciate your annual reading and gracious comments. God bless you and may the spirit of the risen Christ shine brightly in your life.
Thank you! May you and your family have a blessed Holy Week and Easter!