Fifth Sunday of Easter [A]

 


FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [A]


Once upon a time there were three “baby” trees, growing at the top of a high mountain. They would pass the time by dreaming about the future; the kind of contribution that each of them would someday make. The first tree foresaw a day when it would be fashioned into a treasure chest. Valuable coins could be stored within it, along with precious gemstones and exquisite jewelry. The second tree envisioned itself as being part of a great sailing ship. It would carry expensive cargo and visit exotic locations. As for the third tree, it had no wish to ever be harvested. It wanted to remain on the high mountain, extending itself higher and higher, pointing everyone upward, toward the kingdom of heaven. 


What about these dreams? Will they be realized? Actually, it looks for all the world as if these dreams are destined to be squashed, rather than fulfilled. Yes, the first tree will find itself being harvested—but not so that it can be formed into a treasure chest. Instead, it will serve as a  feeding trough, or a manger. The second tree will take to the water, but not as a great sailing ship. It will find itself trolling along on The Sea of Galilee as a fishing boat. Finally, the third tree will be cut down and sold to the Romans so that they can maintain their inventory of crosses. Therefore, it would appear that each of the dreams is in the process of being thwarted. How sad, for the trees! 


However, let’s consider another possibility. Are these dreams being dismantled? Or are they simply being reshaped, reconfigured? Yes, the manger will hold its share of feed for the animals. But the day will arrive when the manger assumes a far more noble purpose: upon giving birth, Mary will place her Child within the manger. When that Child matures into a Rabbi, he will be carried along in a fishing boat, accompanied by his disciples, out on the Sea of Galilee. And when his “hour” comes (Mark 14:41; John 12:23), Jesus will manifest his love by surrendering himself to the Cross of Calvary. Are we talking about dreams that have been deconstructed? If that is indeed the case, then we also need to be talking about the subject of “reconstruction.”  


The material in question, of course, is wood. It’s possible for wood to be crafted so that it can become a treasure chest. Nevertheless, it’s also possible to produce a manger from that same quantity of wood. The manger referenced in Luke 2:7 will house a treasure surpassing every manner of gemstone, coin, or article of jewelry. We know that an old-world sailing ship will likely be made of wood. Still, the same can be said for a first century fishing boat, such as the one featured in Mark 4:35-41. And we understand that, among all of the crosses procured by the Romans, one in particular will figure into the plan of salvation. In each instance, the material in question is wood. 


You are not made of wood. And yet, you represent a material through which the plan of salvation can be advanced. In the eyes of St. Peter, we are “living stones,” fitted together so that something impressive can be established (First Peter 2:4-5). Think of yourself as an essential material. What happens to the wooden manger? What happens to the wooden fishing vessel? What happens to the wooden cross? Pieces are said to remain, venerated as relics. However, in broad terms, the wood has disappeared. It has been swallowed up by the sands of time. What about you? What’s going to happen to you? 


Fear not. Listen to the words of Jesus: Do not allow your hearts to be troubled (John 14:1). As Jesus speaks in John 14, he is describing something truly glorious. The momentum that begins in Acts chapter six will eventually reach a state of ultimate fulfillment. You’re not going to be lost to the sands of time. You’re going to be accounted for. Jesus takes all the necessary steps, “so that where I am, you also may be” (John 14:3). Will your dream face the prospect of being reshaped? If so, trust that it will be reshaped FOR THE BETTER AND NOT FOR THE WORSE. 

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