Our prayer awakens eyes and mind and heart. We are called to gaze with fresh vision on the wonders of our springtime world. The snowdrop and the crocus and the golden daffodil ("that comes before the swallow dares") cause fresh hope to gladden every human breast. We gaze upon a world reborn and rise each morning to greet a landscape that speaks to us the marvels of Eden's dawning day.
Increasing light across the meadow can banish winter sadness as we lift our eyes in joy to everlasting hills. Isaiah speaks of human hope made new. Our sad record makes clear how relevant and how compelling is the message of our poet-prophet now. His inspired words are as fertile seed seeking soil made clean. "If you give your bread to the hungry and give relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness and your shadows become like noon." How often we long for the hour when our cry of pain will receive a healing response. Here is the health-giving message we seek. "Share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor. Clothe those you see to be naked and turn not away from your very own kin. Then will your light shine like the dawn. Your wounds will be quickly healed. Cry put and the Lord will answer. Call, and He will say, here I am!"
All we can ever take across the customs barrier of death will be what we have used in love. Celtic Tiger and Golden Calf will be of little use in our hour of final reckoning. The unexamined life is never worth the living. As another springtime awakens on earth we will surely wish that God's creating word will stir our hearts to fullness of life. We so often question when we may die. Do I ask myself "When will I begin to live?"
Christ reminds us He has come that we may have life and have it more abundantly. All these with ears to hear will surely wish to hear amid the song of birds and the silent message of springing corn. There is an insistent call today that demands response. "Every good person is a shining light for the upright amid all human darkness!"
Paul strips away all pride and arrogance and shallow self-esteem. His message is about Jesus and about Him as crucified. He was in the forefront of contemporary scholars. But he had no wish that his faith or ours should depend on any human philosophy but on the power of God. All who thirst for living waters of eternal truth are grateful still to the faithful teacher of all who seek to be set free from darkness and from all that can corrupt.
We long for saving salt and guiding light. Our questing journey may find us in dark and dismal ways. The heart may sink in sorrow and we may fear despair. The salt of perennial truth alone can protect mind and heart and save from all that could corrupt and kill. Our weary pilgrim steps may falter and too easily stray. With Cardinal Newman we call aloud in faith and with awakened hope: "Lead, kindly light amid the encircling gloom .. ."
Lead Thou me on
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on
Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me."
Let us pray. God our merciful Father, forgive us our sins and save us from the dangers that threaten us. Help us to live in your presence and to walk always in your saving Light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
F.MacN