The Legend of the Pelican

I was reminded of the legend of the pelican twice over this Easter weekend: once by the statute in the photograph, which is in the courtyard outside a chapel; and again, by the back of a priest’s cope in the Easter processional, which featured an embroidered pelican. In Christian symbolism, the pelican represents Jesus, because both were believed to be self-giving in their great love, to the point of death.

Ancient people misinterpreted pelicans reaching into their pouches to extract food for their young as mother birds pecking their own breasts to provide a meal for the chicks. The obvious eucharistic symbolism of this ancient legend—a vivifying meal of flesh and blood—suggested its use to early Christian allegorists. The self-giving, nurturing, motherly love of Jesus is represented figuratively in the pelican legend.

The idea of sacrifice—especially self-sacrifice—has fallen into disfavor lately. Modern secular psychology is all about “self-realization” or “self-actualization” or “individuation.” It’s all about me.

When the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they expressed their concerns “for ourselves and our posterity.” In other words, they were explicitly thinking ahead—thinking about us. The sacrifices they made were not only for themselves, but for those who would follow after them.

I wonder sometimes what future generations will think when they think of us. We rarely seem to think of them. Astronomical budget deficits, continuing industry opposition to the development of clean renewable fuels, catastrophic degradation of the environment, schools that don’t educate, cities that are broken-down, government by the lobbyists and for the lobbyists; is this all we have to bequeath to them?

What or who is worth sacrificing for? The story of Easter is the startling news that we are worth sacrificing for--worth God sacrificing God's own self. It really is about us; but not so that we can become complacent in our comfort and security. Rather, the news that we are worth God sacrificing for is supposed to energize us to go out and share in such sacrificial labors for others. It really is about us--but it's not only about us; it's also about everyone else, too.

What motivates most of our actions? What risks do we take—and on whose behalf? Self-sacrifice doesn’t mean destroying your self. It means using your self in a way that benefits others while it also benefits you. Using your self in love for the sake of others. Like the pelican and like Jesus.