The Message Goes Out

Gospel Reflection for May 3, 2023

Today’s Responsorial Psalm:

Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5)  Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I choose to live where I do because of the incredible natural beauty that surrounds me. Winters are harsh, the Catholic “community” is very small and basically just here for the summer. We don’t have the museums and theaters, restaurants and bars, shopping and the busyness of the cities that most of my Catholic brothers and sisters enjoy. My “neighborhood” has more bears and coyotes than people! My human neighbors are mostly Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seven Day Adventists, along with a few Southern Baptists and Presbyterians. It can be lonely sometimes. Regardless, I love it.

As today’s Psalm sings, here I have the opportunity to see the glory of God in the beauty of His creation. The seasons even echo the gospel. The cold darkness of Lent follows the warm and festive Christmas hearth. Easter brings in the first signs of life, as the ramps and trilliums spring forth from the still frozen ground. May, the month dedicated to the Mother of God, brings the warm sun and all the beautiful flowers. right now, we are experiencing what locals call, “greening up the mountain.” A few weeks ago, the valleys turned green. Daily, that vibrant life rises in elevation until by May 15 or so, even the high peak behind my house will transform from barren, ice covered and windswept stone to a paradise of heaths, wild blueberries and even lady slipper orchids. I will hike up there and sit on a cliff, watching the eagles fly and in silent awe of the views… clear blue skies above and a million shades of green below. In the fall, it will be a quit of gold, orange, reds and browns.

Life in the Appalachian mountains is as peaceful as one chooses (people can always make their own stress or find trouble). I have enjoyed higher and lower elevations in other mountain ranges, the beaches, the coastal swamps and most everything in between. But here, I can live a quiet, somewhat contemplative life. I pray the Rosary while I work in my garden. I pray while I hike. I pray while I fish. I can sit on the porch and read the Bible or a book by a saint as hummingbirds buzz about or booming thunderstorms move in. When friends come over, we barbecue and play music around a fire pit, have a few drinks and enjoy the stars and fireflies. Sure, I could make more money living in a city, but this is my little peace of paradise.

What I would like to encourage y’all to do this month is just to take a little time to enjoy nature. God gave us all this beauty. Too often though, we spend our time staring at a phone or a computer screen. Perhaps we spend time arguing or getting mad at people in traffic. Maybe we find violent or otherwise inappropriate entertainment to waste our time. Maybe we get justifiably angry about politics, culture, injustice, war, etc. Maybe we worry about things that really aren’t worth worrying about. Such things can become the true “opiate of the masses.” Take a lesson from my friend in Odessa. She is living in a war and faces daily fear and horrors. But, she still takes time to paint beautiful watercolors especially of the sea and other natural scenes. It keeps her sane and hopeful.

Philippians 4:8 states:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

… and don’t forget, Our Lady loves flowers!