Friday, March 25, 2005
In Every Flower, With Every Thorn
Joseph Plunkett's poem comes to mind this day:
I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.
Christ's reach of salvation was not limited to a single aspect, unless one can consider his embrace of all humanity a single intention. The title of the oft-maligned seamless garment approach somewhat touches upon this: the notion that people can strive to make a coherent and cohesive stand in favor of life and against death across all the issues. That we might do so imperfectly, or with reservations does not deny the stance. That we might individually or collectively succeed or fail in taking up our crosses and following Christ is irrelevant to the truth of Good Friday. The Lord still calls us. We are urged on and given a great example. We stumble and fall, yet God is there to be our Simon, our Veronica, our Mary, our John.
Have a Blessed Triduum; see you on the road.
