As a butterfly soared overhead, one caterpillar said to the other, “You’ll never get me up in one of those things.”
Yet for every caterpillar the time comes when the urge to eat and grow subsides and he instinctively begins to form a chrysalis around himself. The chrysalis hardens and you’d think for all the world that the caterpillar is dead.
But one spring morning the life inside the chrysalis begins to writhe, the top cracks open, and a beautifully-formed butterfly emerges. For hours it will stand stretching and drying its wings, moving them slowly up and down, up and down. And then, before you know it, the butterfly glides aloft, effortlessly riding the currents of the air, alighting on flower after gorgeous flower, as if to show off its vivid colors to the bright blossoms. .
Somehow, the miracle of the butterfly never loses its fascination for us. Perhaps because the butterfly is a living parable of the promise of resurrection.
On Easter morning the disciples saw Jesus’ graveclothes lying on the cold slab still wrapped round and round the corpse. Only the corpse was gone, much like an empty chrysalis deserted by a butterfly who has left to soar free.
“He is risen as He said,” an angel told the incredulous disciples. Later that day he appeared to the disciples, and then, over the course of the next few weeks, to as many as five hundred people at one time. Even “Doubting Thomas” didn’t doubt for long that Jesus was really risen from the dead.
In our adult lives we have felt the pain and sadness, that accompany our losses. Recently Prince Harry shared publicly how his mental health suffered greatly because of the trauma of losing his mam at a young age.
When we grieve we visit many emotions and indeed questions regarding our mortality. Faith is also a deep comfort in a time of loss. We Christians believe even when death visits our mortal bodies “Life is changed not ended”
What do we Christians say in the face of death? There are many mysteries. But two things we know for sure. First, death is an enemy. Away with the sentimentality that vainly seeks to disguise death’s insult! But second, and more important, Jesus’ resurrection from the grave is God’s proof to us that death is not the end.
The empty tomb and Jesus’ Spirit within us testify that Easter morning is God’s triumph over death. And ultimately, Jesus promised, God will raise from the dead us who believe in His Son.
Why do Christians gather on Easter morning? To show off their fine clothes or give a ritual tip of the hat to religion? God forbid! Rather we gather to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death itself. For since He is our Lord and our Savior, His victory is our victory. In celebrating His resurrection we celebrate our own assurance of ultimate triumph over death.
Prayer to a BUTTERFLY
Dear butterfly,
Majestic monarch of the sky,
holder of universal secrets and reasons why,
color my canvas, touch my heart before I die,
to live in joy, teach me how never to say good-bye.
As you flutter by, you hear me sigh,
things missed because I forgot to try,
on your serene beauty I can rely,
oh what celestial magic you do supply.
Once you did struggle to be free,
you turned your life around to show me,
amazing my angel how you heard my plea,
you’ve cocooned my mind so I can see.
Lets fly together both as one,
and sore beyond time, once upon,
our silken wings God has spun,
Souls entwined, our infinite journey has just begun.
Fr Paddy Byrne
SEE ALSO – Fr Paddy: Why Easter matters
