"Spring"

Today is the beginning of "spring."  I use quotation marks, because this seasonal moniker appears to be a cruel ruse, at least here in the Northeast.  I shouldn't complain.  We in the Upper Valley of NH and Vermont are looking at temperatures in the 30s to 40s with sunshine tomorrow; our neighbors further south in Boston are facing up to 10 inches of snow.  So, happy "spring."

Still, despite my resort to ironic quotation marks, it is indeed spring.  Today is the vernal equinox.  It will get warmer, the snow will melt, new life will be born.  No matter what it looks like, the reality is spring weather is coming. And that brings us to Easter.

Our culture sees Easter as a day to fuss over bunny rabbits and to dye eggs.  A weird mix of commercialism and pseudo-pagan practice has emerged to give definition to this day for many people.  Yet we know better.  We know that Easter marks God's triumph over death in the person of the Resurrected Christ.  We know that the old rules no longer apply, that goodness and love and hope have prevailed.  We're still getting ready for the big day.   So let's focus on the opportunity Lent provides us.  We can still repent, still reflect, still pray.  We can still gird ourselves for the Passion.  We can be ready for Easter, which, to be honest, matters a lot more than "spring."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 51:1-18: Sacrifice

During Lent people often talk about the things they've given up as a sacrifice.  That offering can seem like a burden.  Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's not.  It's good when we part with something that matters so that we can deepen our faith.  It's not when in doing so, we act as if we're doing God some kind of favor, one that deserves praise and acknowledgment.  The psalmist, along with the prophets and others in Scripture, not to mention Jesus, knew this reality.  They knew that it was all too easy for people to fake sacrifice, to look like they were doing something for God but in reality were doing something to boost their own reputation righteousness.  Here, in verses 17 and 18 and Psalm 51 we are told what God really seeks from us: not an animal on an altar, but real introspection and an honest accounting of our sins.  "Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.  The sacrifice o
Read more

Shortest Day

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.  You've probably heard by now about the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, which should be quite a sight.  Of course, this being 2020, the sky will probably be overcast obscuring this celestial event. But rather than be pessimistic, I will indulge in some optimism, some hope, that we will be able to see what has been dubbed "The Christmas Star" - even though Christmas isn't until the 25th and Jesus was likely born in March.  Still, it's the thought that counts, right?  Advent is all about hopeful anticipation, and we're coming to its glorious conclusion. I choose to welcome Christ with an open heart.  What about you?  Will you join me?  Will you look heavenward, confident that, clouds or no clouds, Our Lord is coming to be with us?
Read more

Girl Power

I honestly don't know whether referring to "girl power" is, as they now say, "problematic."  I use it with reference to today's Scripture readings with only the greatest of respect.  The stories of Scripture are as much about women as they are men.  Consider Hannah, mother of Samuel, and Mary, mother of Jesus, who were two strong, empowered women whose faith guided their lives, example and morals shaped their sons, and witness that inspired the faithful for generations.  As we approach Christmas, let us remember these two women who have done so much to shape the faith through their commitment, grit, and love.
Read more