EVER GREEN

[1]The Cherokee Indians tell the story when the plants and trees were first made, the great Creator gave a gift to each species.  He first set up a contest to determine which gift would be most useful to whom.

He told them, “I want you to stay awake and keep watch over the earth for seven nights.”  The young trees and plants were so excited to be entrusted with such an important job that on the first night they found no difficulty in staying awake.  However, by the second night, it wasn’t so easy, and just before dawn, a few fell asleep.  On the third night, the trees and plants whispered among themselves in the wind, trying to keep from nodding off, but it was too much for some of them.  By the fourth night, even more fell asleep.

By the time the seventh night came, the only trees and plants still awake were the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the fir, the holly, and the laurel.  “What wonderful endurance you have,” exclaimed the Creator.  “You will be given the gift of remaining green forever.  You will be the guardians of the forest.  Even in the seemingly dead of winter, your brother and sister creatures will find life protected in your branches."  Ever since then, all the other trees and plants lose their leaves and sleep all winter while the evergreens stay awake.

This creation tale talks of greenness in the midst of barrenness… it speaks to light in times of winter darkness.  Today is a Sunday of transition.  Transition in nature, as we continue to move from the darkness of winter towards increasing amounts of daylight—and transition in the church, as we move from the Christmas Season into the beginning of Ordinary Time.  It’s a time when we move from celebrating the manifestation of God to celebrating the beginning of Christ’s ministry on earth, which started with a seemingly “ordinary” child.

We hear in Isaiah; it is in the eyes of the Lord we will be made a light to the nations so God’s salvation will reach the ends of the earth.  Yes us, not superheroes nor superstars, us, ordinary people, living ordinary lives.  Isaiah describes the mission of an unnamed Servant of the Lord, who appears as God’s obedient instrument in the restoration of the people of Israel.  Most likely, Isaiah intends the Servant to present an ideal: the person or people who truly serve God in response to the divine call, listening and responding despite the cost, empowered by God’s own “spirit”.[2]

In our transition to Ordinary Time we begin each year with the Gospel of John.  For where the Synoptic Gospels provide focus on the Kingdom of God, it is the Gospel of John that focuses on relationships—Christ’s relationship with God the Father and our relationship with Christ the Son, our relationship with each other and the world.  It’s only in John’s Gospel we hear the Baptist’s cry, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” (Jn 1:36) which we repeat at every Eucharistic liturgy.  

John has been baptizing at the river Jordan day in and day out, with faith the Holy Spirit will enlighten him to recognize the one who is coming.  For, up to that point, twice John says, “I didn’t know him,” (Jn 1:31 & 33) or in other words, "I didn’t see him" until the Spirit of God revealed him to me.  

How often have we looked and not seen Jesus in others?  Times when we didn’t feel connected, times of great difficulties, conflict, or loss when we’ve get blinded by our own suffering.  Times when we felt so ordinary and just not good enough and times, we don’t recognize the gifts God gave each one of us.

I found a quote, from a Presidential farewell address, that speaks so well of the power of ordinary people: “It was on these streets where I witnessed the power of faith, and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss.  This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, and they get engaged.”

Never under estimate, my brothers and sisters, just how beloved and special each one of you are in the eyes of our heavenly Father.  Never under estimate how the simple things in life can enliven another person.  A smile on the street, holding a door, not blocking an intersection at the traffic light or letting someone merge in heavy traffic.  We may never know how these ordinary acts of kindness will impact the rest of that persons day or life.

As we begin our transition from the Word to Eucharist where the priest will elevates the transformed elements exclaiming the very words of John, “Behold, the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world." (Jn 1:29) "Blessed are they who are called to the supper of the Lamb.”[3] And who are “they” called and invited to the Supper?  Remember the Christmas message, Jesus was sent for all God’s children, man and woman, Jew and Greek, free and slave, all are invited to this table of plenty.

For it is in the moment of elevation that we, as ordinary people, if we have the faith, can see and know the God’s face, that we are invited to approach and receiving the nourishment for a Servants mission, a mission empowering us with the courage to evangelize the Good News.  This sacred meal transitions ordinary people from darkness to light to be ever green to be for our brother and sister creatures to find life protected in our branches in our ordinary world.

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[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986.  Scriptures: Isaiah 49:3-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34.

[2] Naked, and You Clothed Me, Editied by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2013. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?” by Deacon Jim Knipper.

[3] The Roman Missal, Third Edition. USCCB © 2011.  Liturgical Training Publications, Chicago, IL.