The Rose Garden

 The link to this week's live-streamed service is here.

Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown. See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odour. She is the delight of every eye.
– John Keble*  The Creator

Something about roses touches the human heart. Poets have extolled them for centuries. Think of Robbie Burns and his famous "My Love is Like a Red, Red, Rose.  

Here's a lesser known poem by Christina Rossetti, but with the same admiration for the flower. 

Love is like a rose
by Christina Georgina Rossetti**

Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth,
Love is like a rose the joy of all the earth;
Faith is like a lily lifted high and white,
Love is like a lovely rose the world’s delight;
Harebells and sweet lilies show a thornless growth,
But the rose with all its thorns excels them both.

 In scripture, we find references to the rose of Sharon in the Song of Solomon 2:1 as a metaphor for the divine love of God for His people. This rose is sometimes interpreted to mean Christ and the Church.  

Over time, the church has assigned sacred meanings to roses. The lovely fragrance of a rose is thought to mean that angels are near during prayer and meditation. 

The red rose is a symbol of martyrdom, representing the blood of those who have been persecuted for Christ's sake. 

Some stained glass windows in old churches depict a wreath of roses around the heads of saints as an illustration of Christian joy.

Interesting that joy and suffering are both represented in the same bloom.

The calyx of the rose comes from the same Latin root as cup or chalice and is used to symbolize the cup used in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 

The sepals of the rose protect the flower and have been used to symbolize the grace of God, poured from heaven. Grace that sanctifies and enables the Christian to withstand trials and temptations. 

White roses signify innocence and purity. When used in Christian weddings, pristine white roses are used to represent the pureness of  love between bride and groom. 

Purity is also mentioned in the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

On Thursday of this week, weather permitting, Friendship Coffee will be held in the rose garden beside the library in Sidney. As we gather in that beautiful spot to enjoy a cuppa and a goodie, let the roses remind us of God's generosity in creation. Maybe we'll breathe in the scent and think of the presence of angels.

We can see the red rose and give thanks for the martyrs and Christian joy. 

May the white rose remind us of the message to the Philippians:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Sitting amongst the roses thinking of whatsover things are lovely, should be a given. 

* John Keble's hymns are included in our Book of Praise at #91, #413, #548, (New Every Morning)#553, #557.

** Christina Rosetti wrote the well-loved Christmas hymn, In the Bleak Mid-Winter found at  #121 in our Book of Praise. She also wrote, #138 and #410