Looking for Life

The last place you would look for a living creature is on a volcano. I have been reading a book with the plot placed in Hawaii and one scene (factual) about people who live on the edges of live volcano fields really struck me. When the lava flows, they move... hopefully fast enough. Nutty.

So it was with great interest I stumbled upon the "Volcano Rabbit", who lives on the slopes of volcanoes in Mexico, and so fitting since devout Christians everywhere today are paying homage to the Resurrection and the rabbit.(At least if you were a Martian landing on Planet Earth today, I am certain you would think the God we worship was a large bunny that is part bird as he carries eggs wherever he goes.)

But this symbol of the Resurrection "might could" work (as they say here in the South- one of my favorite phrases). The Volcano Rabbit is an endangered species. No kidding, Sherlock! Of all the places he might have chosen to settle, this would not be the numero uno choice for survival, if you ask me. But here is the zinger- it is not his dangerous habitat dwindling his numbers- it is target practice. Hunters, who don't eat the rabbits, practice their quail hunting skill by shooting at the Volcano Rabbits. The Volcano Rabbit is considered a pest, since so many people are scampering to buy up property on the latest lava flow. Gimme a break.

So here is a rabbit that I think maybe could embody some of the aspects of our Holy Day. First, he lives in a world that in time will be replaced for some by fire and brimstone. He is unjustly maligned, and sought to be killed by those who don't understand. His death is substitutionary. And finally, he exists where no one would expect to find life. He hasn't settled in some nice verdant valley by juicy willow tree roots. No, he has settled in a world that is hostile, that seeks to destroy him, and foolishly considers him unwanted, a pest. He is innocent, but dies at the hands of a guilty world.

Of course, there the analogy ends. The Volcano Rabbit will not rise from the ashes. The wonderful news we commemorate on this day is that Jesus did rise again, and life was found in death, a most unlikely place to be looking for it.

Luke 24:4-6 (New International Version)

⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: