Recently I ran across an...
Illustration
Recently I ran across an interesting tale, told by an anonymous storyteller, that goes like this:
A rosebush grew near an apple tree. Everybody admired the beauty and sweet scent of its roses. Basking in the lavish praise, the rosebush soon became vain. "Who can compare to me and who is as important as I?" it asked. "My roses are a delight to the eye and the most fragrant among all flowers. While the apple tree is bigger than I it does not bring as much pleasure to people."
The apple tree replied to the rosebush, "Even were you taller than I, with all your beauty and sweet fragrance you still could not compare to me in kindly love for people."
"Tell me, apple tree," the rosebush replied, "what are the virtues you boast of?" The apple tree answered, "You do not give your flowers to folks unless you first prick them with your thorns. I, however, give my fruit even to those who throw stones at me."
Paul had been present when stones were cast at the martyred Stephen. He cast aspersions at Christ and his church. He had repented of his sins and seen the light. In his great letter to the Philippians he reminds each of us, as we begin the journey of Holy Week, of our Lord's sacrifice on Calvary's cross. He who was spat upon, mocked and derided, beaten with the lash, crowned with thorns, and crucified on a tree gave each of us his eternal love. Palm Sunday is a good day to remember our Lord's fruitful giving of his life on Golgotha so that each of us might have resurrected life.
A rosebush grew near an apple tree. Everybody admired the beauty and sweet scent of its roses. Basking in the lavish praise, the rosebush soon became vain. "Who can compare to me and who is as important as I?" it asked. "My roses are a delight to the eye and the most fragrant among all flowers. While the apple tree is bigger than I it does not bring as much pleasure to people."
The apple tree replied to the rosebush, "Even were you taller than I, with all your beauty and sweet fragrance you still could not compare to me in kindly love for people."
"Tell me, apple tree," the rosebush replied, "what are the virtues you boast of?" The apple tree answered, "You do not give your flowers to folks unless you first prick them with your thorns. I, however, give my fruit even to those who throw stones at me."
Paul had been present when stones were cast at the martyred Stephen. He cast aspersions at Christ and his church. He had repented of his sins and seen the light. In his great letter to the Philippians he reminds each of us, as we begin the journey of Holy Week, of our Lord's sacrifice on Calvary's cross. He who was spat upon, mocked and derided, beaten with the lash, crowned with thorns, and crucified on a tree gave each of us his eternal love. Palm Sunday is a good day to remember our Lord's fruitful giving of his life on Golgotha so that each of us might have resurrected life.
