The Rooster’s Call
By Marcy Stenstrom
In the women’s dorm of Hogar Belen, an orphanage for physically and mentally disabled children on the outskirts of Managua, Nicaragua we were rudely awakened each morning by the neighbor’s proud rooster. It was at latest four in the morning when his piercing cock-a-doodle call would terrify us from a deep sleep right outside our window. It was too early to wake up. We had at least another hour and a half before it would be time for mass in the chapel. We secretly plotted ways to “silence” the rooster and make our sleep more peaceful. But ironically that rooster did not just wake me up too early. He followed me to the cities of Diriamba, Granada, and Chicago.
For three days of our mission trip we were driven one hour south of the capital city of Managua to Diriamba where we were participating in construction work to build a new orphanage. Before work one morning we stopped at a large church to view its interior; artwork, paintings, statutes and woodwork. I was immediately attracted to the art murals on both sides of the ceilings above the pews. Each one, in the style of modern cubism, depicted a miracle Jesus performed. At the back of the church were more brightly colored murals surrounding a baptismal font and a haunting statue of Jesus in the tomb. A mural on the wall depicted an empty cross except for a lamb resting at the crossbeam, water and blood gushing from it. At the foot of the cross stood a brightly colored and proud rooster peering up at the sacrificial lamb. I thought that people here must really love their roosters!
A few days later on our day out to sight see and experience Nicaraguan culture, we spent some time in the city of Granada. A small number of us decided to view a historical museum next to a church. After seeing indigenous artifacts and the history of Granada, the last few rooms of the museum contained religious statues and paintings. Once again I was drawn to the simplicity of the modern cubism style and the bright pastel color palette. Again I noticed in a painting of Jesus being taken down from the cross that there was a rooster perched on the arm of the cross looking up to heaven. This time I had to ask someone about its significance. A rooster typically crows in the morning signifying a new day and the rising of the sun.
After Jesus’ crucifixion there came a new day, the rising of the Son, the resurrection. In Christian art, the rooster symbolizes watchfulness and vigilance.” But it also symbolizes “infidelity in the face of danger or persecution” as in Peter’s moment of denial of Jesus. Before the cock crowed, Peter denied Jesus three times. (www.religionfacts.com/christianity/symbols)
This rooster followed me around. I even found him in the church where we attended Mass in Chicago before driving home to Wausau. He was crowing high and shown bright in the corner of stained glass window to my immediate left where I was sitting and was present in a symbol on the wall behind the altar next the to crucifix.
We will soon be reading the Passion and resurrection of our Lord. Tucked within it will be a rooster crowing. This lent I was reminded that like Peter, I cannot deny, hide or turn away from God because He already knows my heart and my soul. But also like Peter, I have hope that through reconciliation and Jesus’ resurrection the rising Son/sun brings us a new day. Each morning, I can choose to walk forward in faith and continue to reach out to others in little ways that will bring positive change that is pleasing to the Father.