March anticipates renewal, a welcome return to spring

(Benedictine Abbot Barnabas Senecal)

by Barnabas Senecal

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"Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me."
— Samuel 7:16, Feast of St. Joseph, March 19 

"He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth."
— Hosea 6:3, March 17, Lenten Weekday 

A hint of warmth, a hint of growth,
a welcome return of spring;
formed in stone, an arch for March,
a month of madness, and of gladness.

Madness is in the fever for sport,
gladness is in the faithful heart;
gladness arises from green and sun,
from a soon-to-be Risen One. 

March is anticipated, awaited,
a need to qualify, a need to win,
even Christ knew anticipation,
He awaited possible defeat.

Many were those who doubted,
friends even denied knowing him;
Christ had strength to overcome,
it’s that strength we celebrate, gladly. 

Kansas stone built this monks' wall,
segments of color, mortared as one,
durable, perhaps everlasting,
holiness, wholeness, a possibility. 

Not the stone rolled to the door,
not a stone to seal us off,
but stone to give us confidence,
to endure, to arise, even daily. 

Editor's note: This reflection was originally published in the February 2012 issue of Celebration. Sign up to receive daily Lenten reflections

This story appears in the Daily Lenten Reflections feature series. View the full series.

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