It is a little over 50 days and Spring will arrive. Plans are afoot all over the Northern Hemisphere to plan a garden for the new growing season. There will be disagreements between my wife, Anna, and myself as to what to plant and when to plant in our two small garden plots. We live in an apartment and our choices are limited. Still successful outcomes need a grand plan.
In reality there are unknowns like bugs that destroy our plants and animals that eat them. There is drought and laziness in me watering. Nonetheless, we need to have a good plan. Good seed is paramount. I have used old seed, but cost savings was never outweighed by a superior seed and productive plant.
Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God. We have gleamed from recent scripture readings that the Kingdom of God is all around us. The Kingdom of God is when we do the will of God on Earth. Today Jesus talks about planting seeds. The seeds to which He was speaking are plantings that we will sometimes never see bloom.
When we teach our children to pray and go to Church and participate in the sacraments. We never know the generational end to the planting. Their children will teach your grandchildren and they in turn your great grandchildren. It is a story and a harvest that is never ends.
This is only one example of crops that grow that we may or may not see the fruits of our efforts. In any event, they are there. It is funny in our apartment garden plots if I forget to water many times. I come back the next day. I may find that a neighbor has watered my garden. I in turn water for them. Also, I may find wilted plants.
Bad Gardener!
Just like our souls the Kingdom of God on Earth needs nurturing and care. We do it by keeping the Commandments, being a Christian in our relationship to others and especially to non-Christians and all others in the Pagan world. We do it by reading scripture and living those words in our lives.
Jesus used agricultural examples, but the lessons are clear for us in this industrial-computer age. Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace!
