Beauty surrounds us, but we usually need to be walking in a garden to know it - Rumi
Against one of the side fences of our garden is an evergreen climber scrambling through the forsythia, the lilac and the rose bushes. As with all plants it has a Latin name, Passiflora caerulea, but it is more commonly called the Passion Flower. It doesn’t only grow in my garden but throughout the world with the exception of the continent of Africa. From its common name and indeed from its design it has long been taken to symbolize the Death and Resurrection of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour. Indeed I am told that in the 15th and 16th centuries Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of the plant as symbols of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and if you look at the flower you can see why this should be. From that I suppose we might expect it to flower in March or April when we traditionally celebrate Easter but it does not – well, not in this country anyway. In fact it blooms throughout the summer. Sadly, its flower may only last a day or so; which is a pity really since the flower is exquisite in its design. However, I take from this simple yet beautiful flower a daily reminder throughout the summer that Christ died on the Cross for me and for all mankind; for us and our salvation. And for that I am truly thankful.
1 Comment
Steve Givens
6/7/2015 08:35:01 am
Love these reminders from nature of the love God has for us. Beautiful photo!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI am an Authorised Local Preacher in an Anglo Catholic parish church, in the Diocese of Essex UK Archives
February 2022
|