First snow was not even an inch but it decorated this hanging plant beautifully. The plant is called million bells. I think it's a kind of petunia. It grew and produced lots of blossoms all summer and still endured through the fall while the plants around it froze and died. The leaves under the clumps of snow are still green.
Endurance is what Jesus recommends at the end of this Sunday's Gospel (Luke 21:5-19.) He has been predicting the destruction of the temple (something that had already happened by the time Luke is writing his Gospel.) Jesus predicts war and persecution and betrayal by relatives and friends. He concludes, "By your endurance you will gain your souls."
Many years ago one of my sisters sent me a small picture that hangs still by my desk. The artist has painted three red fuchsia blossoms and has written "Hang in there!" It was encouragement I needed often when I was working as a pastor. It is encouragement many Catholics have been needing. Sooner or later we all need to know that Jesus is with us no matter what and that we can cling to him when we are tempted to let go.
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