Planting seeds of faith

“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” (Isaiah 61:11).

The teachings of Jesus often reflect the image of growth in the fields; the seed-and-harvest metaphors are very visual:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word, which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you” (John 15:1-4).

We are in the great season of spring, a time for cultivating fields and gardens. St. Isidore the Farmer is the patron saint of farmers, and May 15 is his feast day. We have always had a garden; our success-and-failure records are like one big experiment. I appreciate and pray for our farmers, and I love living in Indiana with all its farmland. There are many determining factors in the planting and harvesting processes, but most of it depends on the weather and the amount of work you are willing to invest in this work of nature. And patience; lots of patience!

My grandsons began a science experiment in late February. They planted a variety of vegetable seeds in small containers using different methods of lighting, watering and environments to see how the seeds responded. To say the venture was a success is an understatement. They purchased grow lights and heating trays, and did lots of research to determine the best process for ultimate growth. The small containers turned into larger ones – and necessitated the purchase of additional supplies to accommodate the plants that eventually filled two rooms of their home. We transferred all those dearly loved-and-cared-for plants to our garden, and prayed to St. Isadore for a successful harvest.

The boys were at a local hardware store and calculated the cost of the plants being sold based on the size of the containers they had planted. They were amazed at “how much money we saved with our giant healthy plants!” I pointed out that the expense of the supplies and time put into their labor from late February to May were also pretty substantial. I wanted them to realize that their dedication and efforts with this experiment were ongoing investments. Our large garden is full of potential, and I hope their enthusiasm doesn’t fade when the weeds begin to grow. I will report on this scientific and very spiritual gardening venture.

Planting seeds of faith was the mission of the disciples in the early Church. It remains an important mission today, but is difficult in our culture! Our life experiences make us who we are. No one avoids challenges in life, and adversity reveals a lot about our character. I was blessed to grow up in a faith-filled family.

We are very intentional about helping our family appreciate their faith, moral values and good work ethic as valuable tools for life. This gift of faith is not something you buy; it is not just for a privileged few; and, most importantly, it is easily shared with anyone. God wants His love to be shared, especially with those who may be unlovable. There are no shortcuts to finding true happiness. Perseverance in trials may not prevent bad things from happening, but it will lead you to Jesus – the truth and the life! When you partner with God, all things are possible! You can make a difference in someone’s life! “The Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” (Isaiah 61:11). Amen!