Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Psalm 66: 1 -2

Secrets of Spring

            I've been looking forward to spring showing itself for a while now, haven't you? I've walked down the hill to check on the progress of the daffodils that usually bloom in time for me to cut a ruffled yellow bouquet for the Easter dinner table.  But this year, with the extended cold and Easter falling on the first weekend of April, I probably won't have these flowers in time.  As of this writing, a week before Easter, there are only a few tentative leaf tips showing above the ground.  I've also walked down into the woods several times in search of the blue star-like blossoms of Siberian Squill, but even with a name like that, these early spring wildflowers have not yet shown their faces.  It will be happy day for me, as it is each year, when the big reveal finally happens.

 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all (Luke 8: 17).

             What did Jesus mean by this?  Should this verse cause us delight or fear?  Does it mean that all of our past sin--the ones committed in ignorance, and the ones committed intentionally, even the confessed and forsaken one--will someday be revealed to everyone?  I've heard the verse explained that way, but over the years I've learned more and more to rely on a verse's context to help me sort out its intent.

            Just before saying the above to his disciples, Jesus explained the meaning of two parables:  that of the seed and the soil, and that of the light and the lampstand.  Just as time eventually reveals what kind of ground on which scattered seed fell, so also time eventually reveals the sort of heart on which the Good News of Jesus fell.  And just as one lights a lamp for the sake of seeing our earthly world, so Jesus, the Light of the world, came for the sake of our seeing the spiritual world.  How often Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near."  What exciting times in which to live!  I believe it's the secrets of God's Kingdom that, "will eventually be brought into the open, and everything this is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all."  How would this happen?

[T]he Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14: 26).

            These too are exciting times, the time of air and earth warming, the time of flowers blooming and of secrets being revealed.  As this Resurrection season presents us with the opportunity to reflect, we have the chance to celebrate Jesus rising from the grave as if it had just happened all over again in the world.  This year's daffodils, this year's wildflowers, this year's resurrection of faith, hope, and joy, the wonder of this age-old new risen again in our hearts.

Daye Phillippo

April 2015