I know: there's no purple in the image above.
I know: we don't use flowers during Lent.
I know: in some parts of the world, jonquils have yet to bud.
But this season of penance known as Lent is also a spiritual springtime.
As the Preface for today's Mass reminded:
Each year you give us this joyful seasonIt's in that spirit that I offer you the jonquils above and Brian Wren's words below...
when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with minds and hearts renewed...
This is a day of new beginnings,
Time to remember and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing,
Laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
For by the life and death of Jesus,
God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
Can make for us a world of difference,
As faith and hope are born again.
Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
Step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt and grieving,
Seeking new paths, and sure to find.
Christ is alive, and goes before us
To show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
Our God is making all things new.
In faith we’ll gather round the table
To taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
Our God is making all things new.
- Brian Wren
Thank you for the Brian Wren verse...I particularly needed the first four lines today. In this season of Lent, I have to work at accepting myself as a human being - with all my flaws and a few nice traits too. I tend to do a good job of "beating myself up" with guilt and find I have to be careful about not getting caught up in the "not worthy" language of the liturgy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem and photo of jonquils. On such a dreary day these lift my spirits.
ReplyDeleteIt is high summer here... the lawns are dry and brown. (Daffodils and spring blossoms are a whole half a year away.) Some of the northern hemisphere liturgical allusions just don't apply down here!
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ReplyDeleteSometimes I post as "daisy" and sometimes as "anonymous." I just realized an advantage of posting as "daisy." I was notified today that I had a follow-up comment from a November posting! That couldn't have happened if I had been "anonymous"!
ReplyDeleteNow that Super Tuesday is over...a reminder to vote for ConcordPastor.blogspot as Best Religion Blog!!! See sidebar to vote.
Thanks, Daisy, for offering yet another reason to take on a screen name (yes!) AND for doing a little campaigning on my behalf. I know it's a pain to have to register to vote but it's much appreciated.
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