There is an image in scripture that stands tall above the others: the Tree. At the beginning of the book of Genesis, there is the Tree of Life, whose fruit would give eternal life at the center of the Garden. There’s the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, whose fruit would lead to death. At the end of the book of Revelation, “On either side of the river [of life-giving waters] grew the tree of life … the leaves of the tree serve as medicine.” And right in the middle of the Bible, Psalm 1 speaks of the man of God as being

like a tree that is planted 

beside the flowing waters, 

that yields its fruit in due season, 

and whose leaves shall never fade; 

and all that he does shall prosper.

Over the last 6 years, as I have prepared for the priesthood, I have planted many trees, and cut down more than a few that were dying. I have planted fruit trees, trees for shade, and trees that have some of the most beautiful flowers I have seen.

But all these trees that I planted are nothing but dead wood if I do not have the tree of the cross in my heart (see 1 Cor 13). This is the only tree that truly matters. This is the Tree of Life, whose fruit is sweet as wine and gives you strength to endure the long pilgrimage to eternal life. The leaves of the Cross do not provide shade, but light, a light whose medicine restores life to those who “sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:79) The flower of this tree makes the most beautiful flower on this earth look as though it were dead. The flower of the Cross is not simply a broken and bloodied Man, “so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,” it was “the love, strong as death” that the Son of God poured out for us.

It brings me great joy to know that generations of student brothers will be able to enjoy what has been planted in the backyard. I pray that as they enjoy the sweetness of the cherries and peaches they gather, they prepare to pass on the fruits of their prayer and study, as they rest in the shade provided they thank God for the interior light of faith they have been given, or as they gaze at the beauty of the flowers, they contemplate the Word of God nailed to the cross for our sake. I pray that the trees planted in the backyard of the Dominican House of Studies help as they prepare the ground of their hearts so that the one and only Tree that matters can sink its roots deep in them.

As five of us prepare for ordination to the priesthood in less than a month, I thank all my brothers and formators for the past 7 years, as they prepared me to be conformed to the Man Who was nailed to the Tree of Life. I would not know the love of God without them. I ask for their continued prayers, that what they have planted in me will bear much fruit. I will remember all of you at the altar.

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Image: Jane Spaulding, Flowering Dogwood (public domain)