THEOLOGICAL CLUE

This Sunday might very well be called "Consolidation Sunday," because it is known now as the Seventh Sunday of Easter, rather Exaudi, the Sunday after the Ascension of our Lord. Whereas, Exaudi had a mini-season of a week's duration with Pentecost as its octave, the Seventh Sunday is deliberately incorporated into the great 50 days of Easter. In effect, it "completes" the Easter season, which is brought to a dramatic closure on the festival of Pentecost. The "Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!" motif and declaration of Easter ought to be just as loud on this Sunday as it is on Easter Day; if anything the faithful ought to shout it out more loudly than at any other time of the year. The Seventh Sunday of Easter is the climax to the event that puts its stamp on every Sun…