Good news
A Reflection by Susanne Irving
Good News
The cocoon has finally burst –
a butterfly unfolds its wings,
exploring new heights
and tasting fresh delights.
Forgotten is that painful time
in the cocoon,
when life was disintegrating
and all hope died.
Death is
forever transformed
by the joy of
resurrection.
Coming to grips with the Easter story has always been a challenge for me. As a child, I fully expected Jesus to come down from the cross and defeat his enemies. I was shocked, bewildered, and disappointed when Jesus simply died.
It is still difficult to grasp that our Creator became part of creation and submitted willingly to death. Love and justice triumphed on the cross, yet the victory looked like the defeat of goodness, love, and beauty.
While the Bible is silent about Easter Saturday, it must have been a time of grief and utter bewilderment for Jesus’s loved ones and friends.
Then there is the mystery of Easter Sunday. Most of Jerusalem remained completely unaware that they had witnessed the turning point in history. Even the close followers who saw the risen Christ had difficulty recognizing Jesus and grasping the enormity of what had happened.
To me, butterflies are the ultimate symbol of resurrection and the story of Easter.
Most start off as wormlike, vulnerable caterpillars who are utterly dependent on a host plant for survival. Then comes the time in the cocoon where they are confined in a dark space - life as they knew it completely disintegrates. Yet one day, their prison bursts open, and a delicate, beautiful butterfly emerges who has been given wings to soar.
The sight of butterflies reminds me that all is not as it seems: our journey through the valley does not end in the valley, and all heaven can break loose amidst destruction and death.
The sight of a butterfly also strengthens my belief in our resurrection. If an insect can change so dramatically, why should it be impossible that humans can also undergo a complete transformation?
You can find Susanne’s paintings here.
Susanne Irving
Susanne Irving is a Sacred Circle facilitator and artist from the U.K.