JERUSALEM CROSS GARDENING...OF SOIL AND SOUL: April 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Risen to Re-establish Eden

Lectionary Reading.................Daily Reading

The Jeru

salem Cross Gardening blog has been silent for months now. Winter has taken its' toll! The soil of the garden has long lain dormant. No green inspiration has been there to inspire fresh entries, even though the "gardens" of ou

r souls were regularly tended in our small groups by the Master Gardener, who, John reminds us again this Easter, appears as risen Lord (John 21) to restore the souls of men and women, and the soil of a re-established Eden.

And so Easter has arrived once more. High holy day that it is, again
the Easter banners were hung in the place of honor in the sanctuary. "Alleluia," "He is Risen

!" The Christ candle burns liturgically again, sign that the risen Lord lives within our hearts to shape "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church" (Nicene Creed).

With Easter has come Spring, in glorious synchronicity. The light and song of new life does a two-step across our surrounding landscape with the warmth an

d life of the risen Savior.

Now the planting begins! Soon Spring wheat, seeded in the Cross of Compassion, having experienced a Good Friday-type death, will reach for the sun, green shoots en route to yielding a rich harvest of amber grain. Over the Great 50 Days we will watch each of the 80 seeds - dropped in the offering plate during Lent as a sign of our commitment to die that we might blossom - grow, and measure in our lives Gods' gift of Easter in the resurrection-living it affects.

Are we selflessly and joyously reaching upwards for the Son, en route outwards to yield an abundant harvest for God? The promise of the Kingdom inspires. Eden awaits.

About Jerusalem Cross Gardening

In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

(James 1: 21. The Message)

Jerusalem Cross Gardening...of Soil and Soul

...of Soil (Pleasure)

Cilantro. Basil. Mint. Garlic. Planted in the four little crosses of my raised-bed in my potager garden, these herbs will add flavor to family dishes - think picante sauce, pesto and hummus - bringing taste and pleasure to our meals.

...and of Soul (Purpose)

But there is more. The same four little crosses reminds us of the four acts that deepen faith - acts of devotion, worship, compassion and justice - flavoring the pleasures of life with divine intention.

Just as the herbs flavor our meals, regular engagement of the four acts help flavor our witness to the way of Christ in the world, bringing purpose (Bread of Heaven) to pleasure (bread of the earth) and a holy spice to lives God uses to "landscape" the world.

Jerusalem-Cross-Gardening for Small Groups:

To spice up your life, consider joining a weekly small group. Meet regularly with friends for contemplation, reading scripture, and fellowship. Allow the Word to landscape your life. Share how you have "witnessed to Jesus Christ in the world through the acts of devotion, worship, compassion and justice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit" each week as a way of mutually encouraging one another in your spiritual walk.

We're all invited to the divine dance. Join the journey. Jerusalem-Cross-Gardening-of-soil-and-soul invites us onto the "Trinity-mapped" playground of God where Christ plays in creation (Father), history (Jesus) and community (Holy Spirit). (Eugene Peterson).