New life

Sometimes all we need to do is take a step down a new path

By Bishop Mark Beckman

Early in my priesthood, I was seeking a quiet spot to pray away from the busyness of parish life during Holy Week. I had heard about a place called “Radnor Lake,” which had been set aside as a state natural area, and decided to go exploring.

It was a perfect April day, warm and sunny, and as I stepped out of my car and began walking up the path through the forest, the beauty overwhelmed me. The entire forest floor was covered in new spring flowers, and the trees above were bursting forth with new green leaves. “Where have I been all of my life?” I thought to myself.

Never had I been so attentive to the beauty of God’s creation as I walked quietly through the forest. That decision to begin a walk down a path literally changed my life. Since then, I have been a regular hiker and later a backpacker. And I have enjoyed the beauty of every season and time in God’s creation.

The beauty of the spring unfolding around us happens every year during the great 50 days of the Easter season. It points us to the deeper mystery of Christ’s victory over sin and death, which we have so recently celebrated in the days of Holy Week.

An Apsis mosaic from the Basilica San Clemente in Rome, 12th century, is shown in this image.

The Basilica of San Clemente in Rome depicts in a 12th century mosaic a profound theological vision in artwork of the mystery of the new creation God has begun in the mystery of His death and resurrection. The cross of Christ stands at the center, with living water flowing from His side.

That stream becomes a life-giving spring that flows out to touch all creation. Everywhere new life is bursting forth in plants and animals and humanity. Our new Catholics, born from the waters of baptism at the great Easter Vigil this year, are living signs of the New Life God is creating right here in East Tennessee as they join us at the table of the Lord throughout this season of grace.

God is inviting all of us to a new beginning. We are invited to follow Him on a pathway, a decision meant to change us and those around us to bring forth a springtime in the life of our communities. The beauty God wills for us is marked by peace, hope, a living faith, a tender respect for the vulnerable people in our midst, and for all human life, by a confident and purposeful and sustained commitment to care for this beautiful world God has given us.

May the Spirit of God open our eyes to truly see His presence in the faces of those around us, to help us to be responsive to their needs with renewed compassion and generosity.

In a world still disfigured by the sins of war, self-centered isolation, and the mistreatment of so many vulnerable people, you and I serve as the seeds of a new beginning, watered from the side of the pierced heart of Christ who has given Himself for the healing of all creation.

Sometimes all we need to do is to take a step down a new path, and suddenly everything changes!