A few of his followers remained until the end, but most of them fled in fear. The leader of the group denied even knowing him. After his death, they huddled together, afraid that they would be next on the executioner’s block. Some were weighed down by guilt. All of them felt the darkness of the world, without their friend’s presence, without his light. They were covered in grief. Then something happened.
In an instant, their grief was replaced by joy. Their fear was replaced by an extraordinary courage. The leader of the group that had denied even knowing the man became a lion in his name, proclaiming the Kingdom boldly, with no fear, no shame. How did this immediate transformation take place? How did they experience his presence again? How did they become his light?
This is the proclamation of the Church at Easter: He is not dead. He is risen and he is now known and adored as the Lord of life. The parish community of St. John Neumann exists to proclaim this truth… in word and in deed, that the Crucified Jesus is alive and is calling us to live his life, here and now.
For the disciples of the Risen Lord that are (like us) living in the northern hemisphere of God’s good earth, the celebration of Easter coincides with the “new birth” of spring: it is the season of flowering and newness. The beauty of spring is a kind of sacramental, allowing us to experience something of THE beauty we desire… the beauty that is the Presence of the Lord.
Beauty in all its forms can function this way… as it takes the mind and heart beyond the beautiful thing towards the greater reality, the divine beauty that is life. Artists and gardeners know this… the joy of being caught up in this creative unfolding of life. An artist offers this insight into the dynamic lifeforce of beauty (the Spirit) through her word, through his music, through her painting, through his film-work. A gardener offers us this insight into beauty through the way a plot of land is cared for.
We have two small plots of land, two small untended gardens, between the church and the school. These small gardens could be a source of joy for all of us, if they were cared for, if they provided us the solace of flowers and greenery. Are there gardeners reading this Easter column that might want to take on this call, to make beautiful these two small portions of God’s good earth? I hope so. Do give me a call, or contact me via e-mail. Something happened… and the world will never be the same. This truth is the fuel of our spiritual renewal!
AMDG
Msgr. David Talley
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