Pastor's Note

FOR ALL SEASONS
April 22nd, 2007

Right inside my front door, I have a potted poinsettia. It has been blooming since before Christmas. With the right amount of light and/or darkness and a little water when I remember, it seems to be very much at home in its corner.
Some people laugh when they see it since it is a plant associated with Christmas…and this is the Easter season. But as long as it is healthy, I will keep it out.
Isn’t it interesting how we compartmentalize our lives? We go from one event to the next almost as if there shouldn’t be any carry-over. If we see someone with a nativity set on the mantel during the summer, we assume that person is too lazy to take it down.
Yet the mysteries we celebrate are for all seasons. The birth of Jesus should be remembered even as we think about his death and resurrection. (Have you ever noticed that some of the best Christmas carols talk about Jesus being born to be nailed to a cross or to die for us?)
You cannot meditate on Easter resurrection without thinking about the cross. And you can’t do justice to the paschal mystery without also referencing the incarnation that brought Jesus to earth. And you certainly cannot emphasize Christ’s presence in the Eucharist without acknowledging the other mysteries of Jesus’ life.
As we go through this Easter season, let us not forget the rest of the wonderful life of Jesus.