We are now in the liturgical season of the weeks following Easter moving towards the celebration of Ascension and Pentecost. For most of us Christians this is a time when our spirits are uplifted. Contributing strongly to this uplifting is what we see and feel happening all around us.
Here on these six hundred acres of prime farm land at Ignatius Jesuit Centre Where I am blessed to live there is this dramatic change in nature all around me; the warming of the air and earth, the trees coming out of their winter mourning and quickly changing into their festive garments of yellows and greens.
As winter seems to drag on with a reluctance to give into the season of Spring I suspect that many are like me longing to shed heavy coats and boots and welcome the embrace of the warming air.
It happens every year and yet I’m always surprised and delighted by the newness of it all; the wondrous explosion of sounds and sights and odours. It is a kind of earthly resurrection that begins slowly even before Easter then comes flaring forth ascending into fullness with the lengthening of daylight.
The blue jays and the cardinals have been around through the winter but now they declare what sounds like joy. This is especially true with the cardinals. To me the blue jays always sound rather upset like maybe they can’t stand the competition. Then comes the sweet smelling apple blossoms that bring joy to the heart.
There seems to be a luscious harmony in this season that is preparing us for the oncoming celebration of the great feast of Pentecost.