In praise of... June's strawberries

A couple of weeks ago, a dozen or so colleagues supported me in hosting a large event for schools in our Diocese. It was lively, joyous, hope-filled... but also, as always, hard work, relying on a blend of gifts, experience and quick-thinking flexibility. Afterwards, we returned to the office, to wearily and cheerily enjoy a selection of sweet things, and a large plateful of huge, ripe strawberries. I'd bought two large containers, beguiled by their promise of juicy sweetness - and I was not disappointed. For a few moments, as I held the containers in the shop, I vacillated, wondering whether I was buying too many; anxious lest we'd end up with some over-ripe leftovers on our hands. I needn't have worried - within an hour the plate was empty, and the team were happily replete. 

Who doesn't love a strawberry? Along with nectarines, peaches, cherries and other summer fruits, they are one of the delights of this season, and of this month. Yes, thanks to polytunnels and industrial farming, strawberries are now available all year round; but those out of season berries are invariably expensive, under-ripe, and disappointingly bland and tasteless. Whereas June's strawberries, harvested at their natural time, are wonderfully sweet and delicious... and what's more, they're simply the beginning of two or three months of bright red, juicy deliciousness. 

As with any food, any flavour or aroma, strawberries bring with them a glut of memories. For several years, we grew them in our back garden, and I can just about recall the kindly greengrocer on Tooting Junction who used to give us straw for them. (And recalling him then brings back memories of the little parade of shops, Eggee and David Greig, the butcher and the baker... each one playing its own part in my childhood) There are memories, too, of visiting 'pick your own' farms out in Surrey, where covertly consuming a few whilst picking seemed an almost obligatory guilty pleasure, and part of the fun! The last time I visited a 'pick your own' was in June 1993, shortly before asking to join the Society...

I didn't know this back then, but as well as producing fruit, June is also the month of the Sacred Heart, and in this country, we RSCJ have a tradition of eating strawberries on the feast itself. Naturally, strawberries being so plentiful and flavoursome, and this year's feast-day being so late, I've already managed to spend a good deal of the month enjoying them in anticipation! 

This year, we will celebrate the Sacred Heart this coming Friday, 27th - so, only two days to go. If you can, and if they're in season wherever you are, why not buy yourself some strawberries... feast with us... pray with and for us... and join us in celebrating and renewing yourself in the Heart which is both source and symbol of unlimited, uncontainable Love, poured out for us all, and for our bruised, blessed and broken world.