Trees

Our story and our song involves two trees: the tree of sin, death, and use of others, and the tree of grace, life, and offering for others. Jesus is our tree of grace, life, and offering for others. He is for us together and singly, with the wood of his crib and his cross. He is Child of Mary and Joseph, Child of the Father and the Holy Breath. Mary, wife of Joseph, is his Virgin Mother and disciple-companion, graced and glorified by him, his humble and merciful friend. Joseph is his virgin father and carpenter-protector, blessed by him, also his humble and merciful friend.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Holy Family, are our humble merciful family of friends, to the image and likeness of the Father and his Child and his Holy Breath.

A tree has roots in the earth, a trunk, and branches with a crest in the sky. A tree symbolizes each brother and sister, and our family in the Church and in the world. A tree invites us to appreciate each and all in the Holy Family and in our family of the Church and the world. As we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, we appreciate her life and mission, our Jewish mother, companion and friend of Jesus, and of us each and all. In this light, we reflect on the words of Joyce Kilmer in "Trees": "Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree."

Father Don