“I am now ready to be offered.”

Lesson from the Dandelion. The dandelion has long ago surrendered its golden petals, and has reached its crowning stage of dying—the delicate seed-globe must break up now—it gives and gives till it has nothing left. The hour of this new dying is clearly defined to the dandelion globe:  it is marked by detachment.  There is no sense of wrenching:  it stands ready, holding up its little life, not knowing when or where or how the wind that bloweth where it listeth may carry it away.” 

Lilias Trotter, in Parables of the Cross. Her drawing of the dandelion includes a quote on suffering by Ugo Basso, a 19th Century monk of the St. Barnabas Order.

READ. John 18:1-19:42; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25, 36-38; Isaiah 52:13-53:12

So they took Jesus,  and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them… 

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast…they have pierced my hands and feet–I can count all my bones–they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots…Then Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit…

Psalm 22; John 19

Yes it was the will of the Lord to crush him, he has put him to grief…out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. 

Isaiah 53, Hebrews 10 (MSG)

REFLECT. Detachment. God shows us his beauty and glory in nature. Take some time to observe Spring wildflowers, in particular, the dandelion. This short-lived yellow flower pops up everywhere and is a source of nectar for bees. The flowering is followed by a willowy, globe-shaped seed head which become feathery parachutes in the wind. Like many children, you may have in one breath, blown the perfect white globe into tiny carriers of new life. The transformation from yellow flower, to seed head, to wispy seeds taking flight to bear the fruit of new flowers involves the lesson of transformation from death to life.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

This is the way of Jesus, who was ready to be offered, and poured out his soul to death on the cross, and purchased our freedom to “walk right up to the Holy place” to the very presence of God. How amazing and freeing. The author of Hebrews asks us not to “throw away our confidence or endurance in doing the will of God, but to receive what is promised.” Christ shows us that in dying to self and offering our soul for the redemption of another, we take a firm grip on the promises that keep us going and finish the work of God. As the dandelion seeds let go, we also let go of our attachment to self centered living and find freedom to live fruitful lives stirring our community to love, goodness, and hope.

PRACTICE. Take a realistic inventory of unhealthy attachments to money, time, possessions. As you pray and reflect, be willing to say “I am now ready to be offered.” As the Spirit brings things to mind, you can decide to give something away that has taken on the power of importance and ownership in your personal or work life.

While on the cross, Jesus took time to make sure his mother was cared for by his close friend John. Imagine yourself at the foot of the cross and Jesus asks you to provide care for someone, to comfort them in loss, or strengthen them in prayer. Who comes to mind?

PRAYER. Saint Anselm, Prayer to Christ

My Lord and my Creator,
you bear with me and nourish me—
be my helper.
I sigh for you, I covet you:
I am like an orphan deprived of the presence
of a very kind father,
who, weeping and wailing,
does not cease to cling to the dear face
with his whole heart.
So, as much as I can,
though not as much as I ought,
I am mindful of your passion,
your buffeting, your scourging, your cross,
your wounds,
how you were slain for me,
how prepared for burial and buried;
and also I remember your glorious Resurrection,
and wonderful Ascension.
All this I hold with unwavering faith,
and weep over the hardship of exile (life on this earth),
hoping in the sole consolation of your coming,
ardently longing for the glorious contemplation
of your face. Amen.