The Pomegranate Plant Experience. By Chima Offurum. 03/16/25.
Some of us have the pomegranate plant in our homes; some may have never seen it but enjoy its fruit. It grows in many world regions, including Africa and the United States. I love the pomegranate tree. It contains many robust heart health and anti-inflammatory benefits. It contains antioxidants and vivacious acidity that help our bodies build stronger immune systems to fight the constant attacks of sickness. One interesting observation about the pomegranate plant is that preceding the spring season from the winter, it usually withers like it’s dead, but it’s not. With the early rains introducing the spring season, the leaves of the pomegranate return, and gradually, it blossoms and begins fruiting.
This process that the pomegranate plant follows teaches me about endurance and resilience, and sometimes, I connect the endurance of the pomegranate plant to the strength of many grandparents. They may look weak due to advanced years, but they have learned to be resilient through the padding of experience. This process is also similar to the disciplines of the Lenten season. When we fast and give alms, we learn resilience and have answered prayers for our needs and fortifications to fight life’s battles. Another way to put it is we enter a covenant of love and life with God, nature, and ourselves and progress in our different endeavors. We walk and never get tired; we have new energy each day.
I am connecting these lines to parallel Abraham’s strength from his covenant with God, as recorded in the first reading (Genesis 15:5-12; 17-18) on this second Sunday of Lent. When we are faithful and sincere, our lives become blameless, and the coming of age confirms and ratifies our base. I call it truth-consistency. At this point, we become models or ancestors, as my Igbo people would refer to deceased seniors who lived out the truth in all they did. Individuals who modeled their lives like this are honored. In this Sunday’s second reading (Philippians 3:17-4:1), St. Paul suggests others could imitate people like that because their lives have transformed. This transfiguration point, reported in today’s gospel (Luke 9:28-36), is the goal of a faithful life. The coming of old age does not deter or undermine it. Instead, age defines it further in the same way age and experience refine resilience, which we can see in the pomegranate plant.