A Little-Known Easter Character
WHO AM I?
- I was born in Egypt.
- My circle of influence in the beginning was a radius of about five miles.
- From the beginning my roots were deep and I did not falter.
- I was an optimist from the beginning with a sunny disposition.
- I was known for healing and was great comfort to many people.
- My message eventually was brought to the USA on the wings of wind.
- Today, I am not popular in the USA because I am definitely counter-culture. Many have tried, without success, to get rid of me.
WHO AM I?
Were you able to answer without looking in scripture? Be honest! Actually, you would do better by looking in a seed catalog.
I am speaking here of the lowly dandelion and proposing for the reasons listed above that we switch from Easter lilies to dandelions as flowers on Easter Sunday.
Many say that the lily has been around since biblical times, but the lily referred to in “the lilies of the field” is really what we might call a weed today. In Hebrew, the meaning is “wild field flowers” and most likely was a wild anemone because that is what covers the fields in Israel to this day.
The Easter lily as we know it got its start in Japan in the 19th century and was imported to this country becoming popular as an Easter flower in the middle 20th century. Of course, there are many good reasons to use the Easter lily because of its outward appearance. However, it is not grown naturally and forced to grow at Easter time. The dandelion just comes at the right time and right place. It needs no care at all. It becomes what God created it to be. And, in these inflationary times, just think–it’s FREE! We can’t go outside on any spring morning without seeing one. Wouldn’t it be grand if it was a clarion call and all over the world we began each morning with a YELLOW prayer of praise?
Perhaps a counter-cultural wake-up might really have a better result than an alarm clock. What do you think?
Pat Pickett, OblSB
Photo: Easter lilies in Sacred Heart Chapel, taken by Sister Carleen Schomer
