People like Jesus and Paul were not persecuted for saying “Love one another.” They were killed because their understanding of love meant standing against the domination systems that ruled their world, and collaborating with the Spirit in the creation of a new way of life.

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.

A sleeping world emerges to new possibilities,

weakening winter’s icy grip, and birdsong and bleating lamb

announce to all the promise that in due season creation bursts into life.

And whilst leaves that fell in winter lie upon the ground,

soon to feed the earth, in nature’s wondrous cycle of death and rebirth,

within the tree is a stirring of new growth.