My boss told me about the time she was getting ready to move into their brand-new home. On a pre-move visit, they discovered that the sod was soon to be laid for the front lawn. However, there was significant construction debris – broken brick, bits of concrete, stones of varying sizes, including one very large one that needed a couple of people to move. It appeared that the construction crew was not going to do a good clearing, so my boss, one of those wonderful people who leave “no stone unturned” in any situation – and quite literally in this one – got her three young children to clear the ground with her, so that a healthy lawn could be established. Roofers on the opposite side of the street watched them with surprise, shaking their heads at their laborious efforts.
We read Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower in Mark 4 where we can search for, and find ourselves, in a few categories of people. There are those who barely heed the word of life they have received, others who receive it with joy but give it no time to grow, so that persecution and trouble cause them to fall away, yet more whose preoccupation with worldly cares and desires choke the word, and those who bear a crop – thirty, sixty or hundredfold.
“Cultivate your vineyard together with Jesus,” said St. Pio of Pietrelcina. “To you the task of removing stones and pulling up brambles. To Jesus, that of sowing, planting, cultivating, and watering.” And then these words of comfort to struggling believers, “But even in your work, it is still He who acts. Because, without Christ, you could do nothing at all.”
Preparation
As any workman will repeatedly remind us, any successful project starts with thorough prep. Our Christian walk is no different. When we first come to encounter Christ powerfully, we are often led to make a thorough confession. This is a necessary first step towards creating good soil. But the process of keeping the garden of our lives well-maintained is a life-long process. Unforgiveness and “roots of bitterness,” broken relationships, negative thought-patterns, disordered attachments, unfulfilled promises, compromises, and idolatry of various kinds are the stones, brambles and thorns which keep us from bearing abundant fruit.
The immensity of God’s call and His plans and purposes for each of us is evident in our first reading from Jeremiah 1. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” What is the seed God has planted in my life that needs my special attention and tender loving care? What is the Lord calling me to get rid of that is choking the word of life and holding me in bondage? What worldly cares and unnecessary attachments are preventing me from fulfilling the greater purposes He has for me?
Beautiful response and analogy to the readings. It was very inspirational.