Will Your Seeds Grow?

The word ‘lent’ can be traced back to old English and old German words meaning ‘Spring’ or ‘lengthening of days’. It just so happens that the church season of Lent coincides with the earthly season of spring. It is a quiet time. Christmas holidays, New Year and the Super Bowl are over.
In February, New York City is still cold and icy, but as I walk around my neighborhood I sometimes see tiny buds on shrubs or trees. They may not open for a few weeks yet, but they are full of potential, promising a green and verdant spring. I walk past seeds that have fallen to the ground this past fall. They are lying in the dirt waiting until their stored energy is released by the warming sun and lengthening days. It is a quiet time, but full of expectations.
The seeds of faith have been planted in us through Baptism, through the hearing of the Word, and by receiving the Holy Communion. Some seeds have borne fruit. Others are still lying in the dirt, waiting. During Lent we take a moment to turn away from the noisy business of material life and reflect on spiritual things. What is the condition of our faith seeds? Have they been planted in good dirt?
Gardeners know that for a seed to produce a mature plant it needs care and attention; fertilizer, warmth, light, and water. Our spiritual seeds will keep lying in the dirt unless they get the spiritual food they need. Through prayer, study, worship and communion we nourish those seeds. Our Lord has already provided everything we need, we just need to work it into the dirt. Let’s all work together on enriching our soil, and with God’s grace we will bear much fruit.
Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c]22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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