Great Vigil Sermon: A Eucatastrophe!

Easter morning doesn't begin in the light. It begins in the "not yet," the darkness before the dawn. The Rev. Canon Mark S. Anderson reminds us that Easter morning is a "Eucatastrophe," a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a sudden joyous turn of events that saves the protagonist from a seemingly inevitable tragedy. It is an unexpected, happy twist that reverses a dire situation, rather than simply erasing it.

An episode of the Sermons from St. John's Cathedral podcast, hosted by St. John's Cathedral, titled "Great Vigil Sermon: A Eucatastrophe!" was published on April 7, 2026 and runs 14 minutes.

April 7, 2026 ·14m · Sermons from St. John's Cathedral

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Summary

Easter morning doesn't begin in the light. It begins in the "not yet," the darkness before the dawn. The Rev. Canon Mark S. Anderson reminds us that Easter morning is a "Eucatastrophe," a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a sudden joyous turn of events that saves the protagonist from a seemingly inevitable tragedy. It is an unexpected, happy twist that reverses a dire situation, rather than simply erasing it.

Episode Description

Easter morning doesn't begin in the light. It begins in the "not yet," the darkness before the dawn. The Rev. Canon Mark S. Anderson reminds us that Easter morning is a "Eucatastrophe," a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a sudden joyous turn of events that saves the protagonist from a seemingly inevitable tragedy. It is an unexpected, happy twist that reverses a dire situation, rather than simply erasing it.

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