An Image Reflection for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday

STM's Assistant Chaplains and members of STM's staff will share an image and reflect on it each Saturday. Today, our YDS intern Julian writes about an ancient Yew he encountered during a tour of Skipton Castle in the Yorkshire Dales.

This incredible Yew tree (supposedly over 360 years old!) dominates the center courtyard of Skipton Castle, which sits just on the outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales in Northern England. I was lucky enough to tour the castle in January 2020—and I spent a good amount of time simply marveling at this tree and imagining all the people, seasons and palace intrigue it must have seen during its centuries of life.

I’m reminded of this tree as I reflect upon today’s readings. The tree is believed to have been planted by Lady Anne Clifford in the wake of the three-year siege on the castle during the First English Civil War. It was central to a major—and beautiful—restoration project after the castle suffered the damages of war.

Today’s readings have been compiled to emphasize the idea that all people—no matter the damage they have weathered—can be restored by God. Isaiah describes God as “Repairer of the breach” and “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” Ezekiel proclaims that God doesn’t take pleasure in the punishment of the wicked, but rather takes pleasure in their conversion and their continued thriving. And in the gospel reading for today, Jesus calls Levi—a tax collector, of all people!—to follow him. Many at the time of Jesus would have seen Levi as irredeemable.

As we begin this season of Lent, we are being invited to enter into a time of planting, converting and growing in the midst of our brokenness. What new life could we see grow out of our battered, damaged and weary fortress walls during this Lenten season?