Click here for daily readingsOur Gospel today talks about a very familiar topic, planting seeds. I find it interesting how the Lord implies that we do nothing but plant the seed, for God Himself supports the sprouting, the fruit, and the plentiful harvest. We gather the harvest and return it to His people. We prepare the food and make the bread, yet He is the one who feeds us.
God desires good from the moment a seed begins to germinate. He gives us purpose and places the desire in our hearts and souls to do His will, guiding us to everlasting life. Is it really that simple? Do I just go out and throw seed wherever it will land? Or do I respect the knowledge that God has given us through our faith and His Word, cultivating spiritual ground where He can do His work?
Yes, we can do His work. We can plant and cultivate and even fertilize, but above all He wants us to love Him and work in preparation for eternal life. Don’t walk ahead of God or behind Him, but walk side by side. When we do His will we are on the right path to our final destination, all the while being fed by Him through the Eucharist.
At the end of this reading for today, it says, “Without parables, he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.” The Word of God has been given to us to help us understand His parables, like the parable of the seeds. Yet, just like Jesus gave more of an explanation to His disciples in private, He does the same with us.
What does that look like? If we don’t take time to have private conversations with the Lord, are we not just throwing seeds out there and then showing up for the harvest? Do we watch life happen around us and hope the Lord will do His work, and that’s it? We might be in the right place, have front row seats, and witness many things, but have we taken His Word to heart? Where have we cultivated His Word with love and compassion?
Right now, I’m headed to the local improvement store, my parish church, to gather the tools I need to work in God’s garden. I know He has all the tools necessary, and I want to work with Him side by side until I reach that beautiful garden in Heaven, where there will be seeds of plenty.
El Evangelio de hoy habla de un tema muy conocido: sembrar semillas. Me parece interesante cómo el Señor da a entender que no hacemos nada más que plantar la semilla, pues Dios mismo sustenta la germinación, el fruto y la abundante cosecha. Recogemos la cosecha y la devolvemos a su pueblo. Preparamos la comida y hacemos el pan, pero es Él quien nos alimenta.
Dios desea el bien desde el momento en que una semilla comienza a germinar. Nos da propósito y pone en nuestro corazón y alma el deseo de hacer su voluntad, guiándonos a la vida eterna. ¿Es realmente así de simple? ¿Salgo y arrojo la semilla donde caiga? ¿O respeto el conocimiento que Dios nos ha dado a través de nuestra fe y su Palabra, cultivando el terreno espiritual donde Él puede hacer su obra?
Sí, podemos hacer su obra. Podemos plantar, cultivar e incluso fertilizar, pero sobre todo, Él quiere que lo amemos y trabajemos en preparación para la vida eterna. No caminemos delante de Dios ni detrás de Él, sino a su lado. Cuando hacemos su voluntad, vamos por buen camino hacia nuestro destino final, mientras Él nos alimenta a través de la Eucaristía.
Al final de la lectura de hoy, dice: “Y no les hablaba sino en parábolas; pero a sus discípulos les explicaba todo en privado”. La Palabra de Dios nos ha sido dada para ayudarnos a comprender sus parábolas, como la de las semillas. Sin embargo, así como Jesús dio una explicación más detallada a sus discípulos en privado, hace lo mismo con nosotros.
¿Cómo se ve esto? Si no nos tomamos el tiempo para conversar en privado con el Señor, ¿no estamos simplemente sembrando semillas y luego llegando para la cosecha? ¿Observamos la vida a nuestro alrededor y esperamos que el Señor haga su obra, y eso es todo? Puede que estemos en el lugar correcto, en primera fila y seamos testigos de muchas cosas, pero ¿hemos tomado en serio su Palabra? ¿En qué aspectos la hemos cultivado con amor y compasión?
Ahora voy a la ferretería espiritual, a mi parroquia, para reunir las herramientas que necesito para trabajar en el jardín de Dios. Sé que Él tiene todas las herramientas necesarias y quiero trabajar con Él codo a codo hasta llegar a ese hermoso jardín en el Cielo donde hay semillas en abundancia.
Marti Garcia’s passions are her retired life and growing deeper in her Catholic faith. Marti is a Sacristan/EM, facilitates small groups, and assists as a First Communion Catechist for parents. Being a parent educator and writer for 35 years, she recently published a children’s chapter book on Amazon, The Ladybugs. You can find her at her blog: MartiGarcia.org, or thewaterisshallow.com, or her cohost podcast, findingacommonthread.com, which is coming soon.
Feature Image Credit: Binyamin Mellish, https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-planting-plant-169523/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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