Sitting by a Minnesota lake in May has much more appeal when the lake is not still frozen. It is my deep hope that by the time you read this, spring has actually appeared in Northern Minnesota with more panache than just a date on the calendar. I love Minnesota’s quirky, never-before-have-I-seen-this weather but this year I have to admit that enough is enough….bring on spring!
I, like all Northerners, have had many days to long for spring-time weather. We are all looking forward to warm days and snow-free green lawns. All this yearning for spring has led me to contemplate another desire that we all hold…heaven. St. Benedict in chapter 49 of the Holy Rule exhorts us to look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing. Most commentaries that I have read tell us that he is referring to Easter Sunday as well as the Easter of Everlasting Life. Now that is something to anticipate.
We’ve all heard it said that each of us has a longing deep inside that only God can fulfill. Saint Augustine said it best, “you have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” God designed us to find our completeness with Him. We will never be completely at peace until we share eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, as we await seasonal spring let us be mindful of our ultimate longing and our ultimate spring-time – HEAVEN!
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Sister Lisa MaurerSister Lisa Maurer was born and raised in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Before entering the Monastery, she taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa made her first Monastic Profession in August 2009 and on July 11, 2012, she made her Perpetual Profession. Her first ministry was working at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth. Currently she is the Mission Integration Manager of the Benedictine Health System. See all of Sister Lisa’s posts. |