Bring Some Color to the World

In this winter of ice and snow and cold, it seemed so much color left the world. Brown lawns. Leafless, dormant trees. Grey skies. Covered, or empty, flower beds. The landscape seemed particularly bleak to me this year - and I personally like winter very much. Perhaps it was the dragging on of the pandemic or the divisions in our society that added to my vision of the winter world.

But even in the midst of all this, there were glimpses of color. I don’t believe the berries on this bush have ever been as red. They glow in their little oasis of green in the midst of a grey world. It seems as if they exist to be a reminder that color will return to the world, in its time. They seem a promise; a promise that there is life, even in the depths of winter. They seem a taste of what could be, and will be, a bit farther down the road.

It seems to me that this is a good way to think of the Church in these difficult times. Try as we may through our good works of kindness and compassion, the world remains a tough place. Try as we may through our proclaiming the good news of love and grace, bad news and callousness abound. Yet, when we live out our lives in this way, day in and day out, we are like the red berries. We shine into the bleakness and give hope. We remind the world that new life is coming. We bring a glimpse of what all of us are longing for, even if we do not know how much we long.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Peace.