An Insight for Easter

In the heights he flowed like a river;
He came from Mary like a shoot;
He hung on the tree like fruit
And returned as first-fruit to heaven.

Stanza from Hymn 1 On The Resurrection by St. Ephrem

Every now and then a line of poetry or prose will pop out at me, giving me fresh insight into some spiritual truth I thought I’d plumbed to its depths—as if that’s even possible.  I read this stanza the other day and the highlighted line hit me between the eyes.

This year’s Easter Season seems somehow special because we have a new pope with a decidedly different outlook and direction for the Church.  Not one that is in true contrast to his predecessors, but rather complimentary in its goals.  So, it seems good that we take another look at the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection.

“He hung on the tree like fruit.”  What an insightful line.  I don’t know enough about the early saints and Church Fathers to know if St. Ephrem employed an original image for the crucifixion, but I do know that I’d never thought of it like this before.  I’d always known that Christ’s death was redemptive and so bittersweet, but it never occurred to me that it was fruitful.  It seems so obvious now as I think on it.  The idea opened new vistas in my understanding of Christ’s sacrifice.

The first thing that struck me is that it’s Eucharistic.  Jesus told us that his “flesh is real food” and his “blood is real drink” (Jn. 6: 55).  What does one do with a lovely piece of ripe fruit if not bite into it and enjoy not only its flesh but its juice?  What does fruit do for us if not provide nourishment, refreshment and enjoyment?  The Psalmist said, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8a).  What sweeter fruit could we wish for than that of Christ’s body and blood which he himself instituted in the most holy Eucharist?

It tells us many truths about our God.  I realized that God provided before we knew what we would need or that we’d have a need.  What did he create before he created man but the fruits of the earth for us, and the other creatures, as our sustenance?  In this we see that God has planned things “for our welfare and not for evil” (Jer. 29:11).  And he still provides ahead of our need or our asking.  He gave us life, and parents to love and nurture us.  Christ and the Sacraments of Church to bring us to eternal life.  Friends, spouses and children to gladden us.  Communities in which we can be one with others in his love.  And the list could go on and on.

If I were to attempt to list all the fruits of Christ’s death and resurrection I would need to write many books.  But suffice it to say that although no loving person would have wanted to see Jesus tortured and crucified—Peter didn’t nor his disciples—still it was not merely bittersweet, but was, and still is, the fruit of life that ripened with his resurrection and the promise of everlasting life to those who believe in him and do his will.