A LOOK BACK: APRIL SNOWS

DAILY LECTIONARY READINGS – TUESDAY OF EASTER WEEK
AM Psalm 103; PM Psalm 111, 114 Exod. 12:28-39; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; Mark 16:9-20

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
    all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

excerpted from canticle 12 “a song of creation”, book of common prayer, p. 88]

Note: I have not felt very creative lately and today is one of those days where I am taking the easy way out and reprising a reflection I wrote way back in April of 2012, when I was actively serving a parish. It is one of my favorites and touches somewhat on the gloomy, unpredictable weather we’ve been experiencing lately. I’ve done some light editing and added the daily lectionary readings and a closing prayer to maintain the format I’ve been following lately.

I will make every effort to write something fresh and new on Friday. If not, I will either skip the day or “resurrect” another of my treasured treatises for your enjoyment.

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On Sunday our church’s boiler malfunctioned and so we worshipped in frigid temperatures.  I am not nearly so affected by the discomfort of the cold since I am well outfitted by my vestments.  But as I greeted people at the end of the service, it was a shock to the system to shake so many chilly hands.

The forecasters were calling for snow on Monday.  It’s April.  What else is new?  If you live in Northeastern Ohio, you come to expect the weirdest weather.  A popular slogan around here is that if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes, it will change. 

Opening days of baseball season have been snowed out. I recall one year in the late 1990’s, when I was working for the then – Cleveland Indians, walking around the ball park with an astonished wide-eyed minor league pitching prospect from Venezuela who had never before seen snow.  The Indians were playing an exhibition game in the less than two-year-old Jacobs Field amidst persistent flurries that approached near whiteout conditions. He asked me if what he was seeing was typical.  I had to resist the urge to terrify him with a resounding, “Yes!”  So I simply explained to him that it does happen sometime. 

I remember seeing him the next year in Spring Training at Winter Haven, bathed in a pool of sweat in the humid Florida heat, and reminding him of what he had to look forward to in a few weeks.  Sadly, he never made it to the Major Leagues.

As I grow older I understand why people move to warmer climates later in life.  I was born in Puerto Rico, but have spent the bulk of my life in Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Though I’ve grown to love the change in seasons, I yearn for milder winters that don’t linger into early May.  Where is global warming when you really need it?

With one exception, Scripture always portrays snow in a positive light.  In most cases, is symbolizes purity, the outcome of the forgiveness of sins.  Leprosy is the lone negative.

So where am I going with this seemingly aimless rambling?  I really don’t know.  I simply felt like taking a page out of Mark Twain and talk about the weather.  After all, we can do nothing about it.  If I’ve stolen valuable time out of your day to read this post, I apologize. 

But do me one favor – read Isaiah 55, especially verses 10 and 11, part of which appears below. 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth…
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty…

May God’s word provide you with warn, comforting thoughts for an otherwise gloomy weather day.

Let us pray:
O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
[Collect for Tuesday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, p. 223]