As those living in Hawaii would say, “Aloha!” How are you? Hope you are well.
If our friends at Wikipedia can be trusted then the phrase “April Showers bring May Flowers” finds its origin in an English poem from 1610
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If our friends at Wikipedia cannot be trusted then, for the sake of this e Newsletter, we’ll just pretend that they can be…Unbeknownst to me there are a couple of variations that exist of the poem such as, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers” and “Sweet April showers do bring May flowers” (Ibid).
Especially here in Minnesota we’re at that transitional point in the seasons when the chilly days of winter are giving way to the thaw of springtime. Some might think metaphorically of the rain that will be coming as the tearful mourning of Old Man Winter that his reign is coming to an end. (In ancient Greek mythology and in various forms of literature the season of winter was personified at times by an older man. Source:
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At the meteorological level or in terms of the climate the rains could be attributed to the winds that move clouds and moisture from one part of the world to another
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While it’s not always the cheeriest time of year to have cloudy, overcast, and rainy days the English poem reminds us that the result of that seemingly pernicious precipitation is beautiful flowers. Applying this logic to the spiritual journey that we’re making here in this Lenten season we could say that the rains of self-denial, personal and collective penance, making charitable contributions to the poor and needy, and even experiences of suffering can translate to the flowers of the Easter season. These desert days of cactus and tumbleweed will eventually give way to the flourishing of daffodils and Easter lilies. Within the first reading for Mass this Sunday we’ll hear words which get at this theme, “In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers…I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink” (Isaiah 43:19-20).
The purpose of our Lenten resolutions is not meant merely for personal growth in the area of discipline and self-control. With God’s Grace at work within us that can certainly be one of the fruits of our efforts. However, our ultimate goal is to fix our eyes more intensely on Jesus Christ and to grow in our friendship with him and his Church. It’s not always easy to do and at times it seems like we’re living the classic song by B. J. Thomas, “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head.” Nonetheless, we press onward in this journey with hopeful confidence that these experiences will lead us to deeper faith, more fervent hope, and a love that is ever blooming.
