Rose Sunday

"we are invited to look beyond the thorns of suffering to the beauty of the rose."

]Golden Rose by Giuseppe and Pietro Paolo Spagna. public domain[

The Golden Rose

In Rome, in a tradition so old that no one can say when it truly began, the pope blesses a rose crafted from pure gold. In churches all over the world priests and deacons wear rose colored vestments. Why is the rose so closely associated with this Sunday, halfway through the Lenten season?

The rose has a rich and complex symbolic meaning in Christian history, but in general terms we can say that the rose is a promise of the joy that follows suffering as the flower follows the thorns.

Pope Innocent III put it this way. “As Laetare Sunday represents love after hate, joy after sorrow, and fullness after hunger, so does the rose designate by its color, love, by its odor, joy, and by its taste, satiety.”

The Phenomenon of Hope

In 1948 Dr. Howard Rusk founded the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. Before Dr. Rusk, the field of rehabilitation medicine simply did not exist. But Rusk took an innovative approach. His goal in treating the handicapped and the severely injured was to treat the whole person. Through what he called “the phenomenon of hope,” he trained people to look beyond their suffering to the heights of their latent ability – to help them live the very best lives they were capable of despite their disabilities.

On a wall at the institute is a plaque with these words.

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…
I asked for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things…
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise…
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things…
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!”

It has become a common occurrence. The closer we move to God the more we experience misfortune, suffering, and difficult times. The fathers of the Church were of the opinion that our suffering is a result of either the consequences of sin or the desire of God to test our faith. Most likely it is a combination of the two.

The devil wants nothing more than to deprive God of as many souls as possible. When we betray our trust in God through sinful actions, the devil is there to exploit our weaknesses in an attempt to drive us further from God.

For God's part our faith is more precious to Him than “fire-tried gold.” A faith that is tested by misfortune but remains, or even grows stronger, is a faith worthy of God.

The Suffering of Job

We see this clearly in one of the great poetical books of the Bible, the Book of Job.

Job is a wealthy landowner in the land of Uz. He is blessed with material wealth as well as a healthy sons and daughters. In Heaven, God asks Satan hi opinion of the righteous man. Satan replies that Job is only faithful because of the riches God has bestowed on him. Were that taken away from the man, he would surely curse God.

God gives Satan permission to test Job, stipulating only that the man's life be spared. The Adversary takes Job's wealth and kills his children and servants. Jod responds, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)

Next, Satan deprives Job of his health, afflicting him with painful boils. After so much suffering even Job's wife encourages him to curse God and die. But Job remains steadfast and righteous. “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10)

“Job” has become a byword for the suffering endured by God's most faithful servants. But what is often overlooked is the end of the story. Job remains faithful in spite of horrific misfortune and deprivation. And when his faith has proved itself in the fire of suffering, the Lord restored to Job all his fortune, twice over what he had before.

“And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. ...And in all the land there were no women so fair as Job's daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days.” {Job 42:11-17)

It has been said that those of great spirit can bear the blows of Heaven without flinching. That may be too much to ask in a society that prides itself on avoiding pain and suffering and indulging in every whim. But like Job, it remains a model to aspire to.

Suffering is a reality in our lives. It cannot be avoided. But if we trust in the Lord, “We know that in everything, God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Today we are invited to look beyond the crucifixion to the glory of the resurrection, we are invited to look beyond the privations of Lent to the bounty of Heaven, we are invited to look beyond the thorns of suffering to the beauty of the rose.

Pax Vobiscum
Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Transfiguration © Lawrence Klimecki

Pontifex University is an online university offering a Master’s Degree in Sacred Arts. For more information visit the website at www.pontifex.university

Lawrence Klimecki, MSA, is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual “hero’s journey” that is part of every person’s life. He maintains a blog at www.DeaconLawrence.org and can be reached at Lawrence@deaconlawrence.com

Lawrence draws on ancient Christian tradition to create new contemporary visions of sacred art. For more information on original art, prints and commissions, Please visit www.DeaconLawrence.org 

Purchase fine art prints of Deacon Lawrence’s work here.