TREE OF LIFE

Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were
delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9

May is a beautiful month. Depending on where you live in Ontario, spring has finally arrived bringing with it the beauty of nature’s new growth. Bulbs burst forth from the earth. Gardens sprout. Trees bud, then bloom and leaf. It is a sight for eyes sore from the desolate winter. As the Genesis story relates, the trees around us are ‘delightful to look at’ and many of the ones in the orchards in my area of southern Ontario are also ‘good for food’.

Genesis is not the only source that mentions a Tree of Life. There are accounts of such a tree in the traditions of the Hindu, Jewish, Pre-Islamic and Islamic, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Buddhist, Norse and Native America cultures. Even Disney World has a Tree of Life containing 300+ carvings of different animals. It seems that the Tree of Life has existed in many areas of the world as a beautiful symbol that people have recognized since before recorded time.

The cross is a powerful, life giving tree for all Christians. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us everlasting life. His death on that tree also enlivens and strengthens us for our daily life.

As Vincentians we see trials and hardship. Our friends suffer from poverty and injustice, from illness and loneliness. We try to help in any and every way but sometimes there is little that we can do beyond listening and trying to be supportive. Not being able to do more would be overwhelming if we didn’t have a source of refreshment. That source, of course, is our faith.

Members of SSVP are encouraged to come together in faith, to pray together and to celebrate our feast days and ceremonies because these “help to maintain a spirit of profound moral and spiritual friendship among members.” (Canadian Rule 5.6) Blessed Frederic wrote, “The best way to economize time is to ‘lose’ half an hour each day attending Holy Mass.”

Without the support of faith and fellow Vincentians I might despair. The cross of Christ that appears in the sanctuary of my parish church inspires me, nourishes me, gives me life even more when I share it with members of my Conference. Together we can accomplish great things.