Laden with blossom
the great Magnolia
whispered to her neighbours
underneath -
the daffoldils and tulips
straining upwards
towards the light -
'See how easily I manage
to display myself! -
I only have to open the buds
and my glory just appears!'

But the daffs and tulips
responded -
'But you can be taken away
by frost -
what do you say then?'

'Ah!' - whispered the Magnolia,
'Then my time would come to an end.
Do not reproach me -
only think of me
now!'

Lord,
it was humanity's frost
that extinguished
your life
while it was in full bloom.
Yet -
the Father
in a new creation
vindicated you
and transformed you.

And us, the guilty?
In you, we too
share in your life,
in faith and love.
But throughout
the long centuries -
at this time of year -
many disciples look
backwards
to the frost -
to live again the events
of passion and death.

Lord,
it must be truly
everyone's desire
to live in the Now
with you -
in faith and love -
instead of in
the past.

On Easter Day -
at the celebration -
we will bring you
our thanks:
for our re-creation
in you -
in faith and love.

Promising,
from now on,
to live only
in the
'Now'