Food for Thought – Page 55

Flowers Fade

They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure. ~ Job 14:2

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. ~ Isaiah 40:8

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. ~ Psalm 103:15-19

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. ~ St. John 1:1-4

Blossom Abundantly

The beauty of today’s Feast of the Annunciation, surpasses these Fawn Lilies blooming in a local woodland.

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. ~ Isaiah 35:2

Venerable Bede (7th century), likened the Virgin Mary to a white lily… symbolizing her purity, innocence and virginity. The floral centre of yellow anthers, are as the golden radiance of her soul.

The Archangel Gabriel is often depicted in scenes of the Annunciation as giving the Virgin Mary a lily. In August, around the time of the Dormition, blooming hostas are called Assumption Lilies.

Lilies, were also called the white-robed apostles of hope. Their colour symbolizes the sinless Christ. The shape of the Easter lily represents a trumpet, resounding the message that Christ is risen. The nature in which lilies grow is also symbolic of the Resurrection.

In His Time

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. ~ Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8; 11

Beauty for Ashes

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:3

God’s love for us is greater than we could ever imagine. By Christ’s Resurrection, He takes the ashes of grief and sin, and transforms them into beauty, hope, and joy.

Trees of Righteousness

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ~ Isaiah 55:12

Upon the Willows

This is a pussy willow branch from a third generation church tree… originally grown from a dried and blessed Palm Sunday bouquet, which sprouted in an icon corner!

These furry little catkins are among the first to blossom forth, in early spring, seemingly to show the trees and bushes it’s time to awake from their cold winter sleep!

Pussy willows make easy everlasting flowers. Pick a bunch, and put them into a dry vase. No water. They will keep for years.

If you think of planting a pussy willow tree near your home, do keep it far away from drains. For, as an exuberant willow, it is determined to seek water.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ~Ecclesiastes 3:11

Beauty of Holiness

The highest form of prayer is to stand silently in awe before God. ~ St. Isaac the Syrian

The pansy is called the Trinity Flower because of its three-petal shape.

Pansy colours of white, yellow, and purple flowers also remind us of the Virgin Mary’s life… recounting her purity, joy, and mourning, respectively.

Today’s modern Pansy flower originated from its ancient cousin – the wild, European viola, also known as heartsease. In Victorian floriography, the pansy represented thoughts and remembrance, and its name came from the French word pensée.

Pansies and wild violets have medicinal properties and were beloved by herbalists for centuries. They were used for skin complaints, respiratory problems, chest infections, and making dyes.

Besides enjoying their simple beauty in a fragrant bouquet, organic pansies and violas are also edible. They can be candied, used in salads as garnish, decoration for cake tops, and cookies.

Nobody can keep on being angry if she looks into the heart of a pansy for a little while. ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author – Anne of Green Gables

Ineffable Greatness

The Lord on high is mightier, Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea. ~ Psalm 93:4

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. ~ Psalm 107:29

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! ~ St. Matthew 8:23-27

IC XC NIKA

IC XC ~ Jesus Christ (Abbreviated Greek for Jesus Christ. The lines above the letters indicate the words are abbreviated)

NIKA ~ Conquers

IC XC and NIKA (Greek) refer to Jesus Christ’s conquest of Hades and His victory over death and sin by His glorious Resurrection. IC XC and NIKA is stamped on Prosphora.

It’s a pious custom to keep holy bread and holy water in one’s icon corner. These are consumed upon breaking the previous night’s fast, along with morning prayers.

O Lord my God, may Thy holy gift and Thy Holy Water be unto forgiveness of my sins, unto enlightenment of my mind, unto strengthening of my spiritual and bodily powers, unto health of my soul and body, unto vanquishing of my passions and weaknesses, by Thy boundless merciful kindness, through the prayers of Thy Most-pure Mother and all Thy Saints. Amen. ~ Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St John the Baptist

Consider the Lilies

Fawn Lilies flourish in a local woodland.

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ~ St. Matthew 6:28-29