Jonquil and Jesus

Apr 4

Every year I get excited when the jonquils pop up through the ground. Those mini daffodils are usually the first to bloom and remind us that winter is coming to an end. It is truly amazing that after the freezing temperatures we experienced this winter, once again they broke through the cold earth to show forth their glory. During these cool Spring days, the jonquils, daffodils, tulips and forsythia remind us that despite what appears to be dead, the cycle of life continues. The cycle of life is God’s promise to us.

Our life, however, is not always Easter Sunday morning. For some, the darkness of the winter months is very real. This past Holy Week I especially prayed through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother for members of our parish, as well as for a good friend of mine, who know the deep and life changing pain of losing a child. I also remembered parishioners whose life partner, their husband or wife, have died and are now wondering how their life can go on. My prayer was also for our world as we continue to live in the darkness of winter believing that we can “live by the sword” to settle our differences either with other nations or within our cities, our neighborhoods, or even in our own hearts. There is a lot of darkness around us. There is a lot of pain in our human condition.

Yet, despite the harshness of our reality and the coldness of our winter months, the glory of God is revealed through our humanity, in spite of our humanity, because of who God is, who God is for us, and who God is calling us to be. Easter Sunday tells us the cycle of life that God has in store for us. It is because of that promise, that Good News, that Jesus challenges us to go out, because of the darkness and pain, to proclaim the Kingdom of God is here.

This Easter season let us promise to live in that Kingdom of God. Let us work and pray that the Kingdom will come and we will “…beat (our) swords into plowshares and (our) spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall (we) train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:4-5)

May we all know the peace that comes from Christ alone and may the hope that shines forth through the
Resurrection always live in our hearts. On behalf of the friars, Sr. Pat, and the entire Pastoral Staff, we wish you a very Happy and Blessed Easter.

Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!