April 2011
Reflections of God's Goodness

We know the end of the story! Yesterday the world was still bathed in winter brown and gray. Today daffodils and forsythia burst into life! I am surprised by bright yellow flowers — they were not there this morning! I didn’t realize the transformation was taking place. 

Then I walked by a dogwood tree and the buds could hardly contain themselves. Soon they will join the bright yellow flowers in proclaiming that “death has lost its sting.” What a gift these revelations in creation! What wonderful lessons we can learn when we see God’s Word in his creation.

Here we are in the midst of our Lenten fast. Only a few weeks in and already it seems so long. Easter still seems a long way off. Could transformation be taking place in us and we just can’t see it? We do know the end of the story, but we forget.

We can get discouraged and even feel very alone in our struggles, not only with our Lenten practices but with our life. The day in day out struggles and challenges that come our way. But, we are not alone!

Jesus promised, “I will be with you…always.”

We are not alone, Jesus promised.

Resurrection happened. Resurrection continues to be the pattern in our world and in our very lives. No reason to think “I can’t do this”. No need to wonder, is God with me? The Holy Spirit remains.

We do have to die in this Lenten journey, but in the dying is the promise of resurrection and new life. Our God walks with us. You can have hope for your own transformation even though you may not be able to see it. Recommit to your Lenten practices. Bring your intentions and needs along. Jesus promised to be with us

Yes, we do know the end of the story! And it is eternal life.

So, let us renew our efforts as we finish up this Lenten celebration so that, like the Spring flowers, our resurrection will explode into the new life we seek. May the God of Easter resurrection reveal the new life waiting to be born in us. May our Easter be full of life and promise, hope and joy. 
 

Blessings,

Sr. Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN
Director of Development