“Easter Chimes Awaken Nature” by Alphonse Mucha

Seraphim sing in no time zone. Cherubim see

as clearly on as back, invest acacia wood with arkhood

in their certainty; their winged ornamentation

gilds the tabernacle shade. Comprehending the

compacted plan centered in every seed, the grown

plant is no more real to them, and no surprise.

Dampened by neither doubt nor supposition,

the archangel sees with eyes sharper than ours.

For him, reality’s seemingly random choice is all clear

Cause and Effect: each star of snow tells of intelligence;

each cell carries its own code; at a glance each angel

knows from whence the crests of all the wrinkles on

the sea rebound. He has eternity to tell it all,

and to rejoice.

“Easter Angel” by Salvador Dali

But here and now in Judea, what is

this scandal of particularity? This conjunction of straw

and splendor? Of deity and agony? The echo of

sharp laughter from a crowd, as hammered nails pierce flesh,

pierces the Bright Ones with perplexity. They see

the Maker’s hands helpless against Made Wood.

The bond is sealed with God’s blood, the body buried.

In this is Love’s substance become darkness

to their light. The Third Day sweetens the mystery.

Astonished heralds now of Resurrection,

they have eternity to solve it, and to praise.

 

 — from “Angel Vision” by Luci Shaw

Did you know that Hallmark commissioned Salvador Dali to make a series of greeting cards? I believe this must have been one of the few images saccharin enough for such a use, and yet…. Trusting the artist enough to look deeper I see that butterfly crucified and the angel meditating on the grueling and transformative power of the cross, on death and resurrection and God and humanity revealed in one body.

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!