Risen to Re-establish Eden

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

The Jerusalem 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 our 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 and 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.