A Man, a Woman and a Tree

Following the Spirit’s lead in the pivotal points in life

05/21/2018

John 19:25-34 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

The two most pivotal points in all human history occurred with a man, a woman, and a tree. The first was at the beginning of time with Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge and power; the second was in the fullness of time with Jesus, Mary and the Tree of the Cross. I say these two events were “pivotal points” because everything that followed after them was fundamentally changed: after the first event in Eden, the world moved toward sin and death, and after the second scenario on Golgotha, the world moved toward forgiveness and life.

In each occasion humanity had come to a fork in the road of history, and like the poet Robert Frost reflected: “I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.” Frost’s lines are reminiscent of the opening of the medieval poet Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Florentine poet wrote: “In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself, in a dark wood, where the direct way was lost.” The pivotal points of the path of human history are always played out with a man, a woman and the wood of a tree.

The scripture readings from Genesis 3 and John 19 recount precisely these two pivotal points of history. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve reach out their hand to the Tree of Power, symbolized by the fruit promising to bestow knowledge and to make one god-like. In John 19, Jesus and Mary reach out their hand to the Tree of Penance, the fruit of which is obedience and humility, and which really makes one God-like. But noticed the presence of two spirits as well in the background of the story: the evil spirit of the serpent tempting Adam and Eve, and the Holy Spirit filling the hearts of Jesus and Mary, leading them to the Cross. After Jesus dies on the cross, what transpired? We read: “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” After Adam and Eve, humanity was like Dante, who regretted: “I came to myself in a dark wood, where the direct way was lost.” But after Jesus and Mary, humanity could repeat relieved with Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - / I took the one less traveled by, / And that was made all the difference.” Jesus and Mary chose the road less traveled by and saved the human race. In both instances, a man, a woman and a wood make all the difference in charting the course of history.

On March 6, 2018, Pope Francis inserted a new feast day into the Church’s liturgical calendar. He decreed that the Monday after Pentecost Sunday (hence, today) should be called the Memorial in honor of Mary, the Mother of the Church. Why did he do that? Well, because he’s just sitting around sipping cappuccino and didn’t have anything else to do.  No, it’s because the pope knows that sooner or later you and I will also come to pivotal points in our life, a fork in the road that will forever mark our destiny. And we basically have two role-models we can follow: the couple in Genesis or the couple in John, both of whom reached out their hands to a Tree: the first couple to the Tree of Power, while the second couple to the Tree of Penance. The pope placed this celebration strategically after Pentecost, the Feast of the Holy Spirit, so that Mother Mary, who flawlessly followed the Spirit’s lead, can show us how to do the same at pivotal points in our lives.

Indeed, today itself is a pivotal point in the liturgical year: we pivot from the fifty days of Easter (and wearing white) and turn toward the long march of Ordinary Time. (where we wear green). But this time will be anything but “ordinary”: it will be marked by pivotal points showcasing a man, a woman and a tree. When we too find ourselves facing two roads that diverge in a wood, may the Holy Spirit help us choose the Tree of Penance rather than the Tree of Power. That will make all the difference.

Praised be Jesus Christ!