It has been at least three generations since anyone in my family farmed, or even grew much more than marigolds and some rhubarb. Even so, I feel the urge to plant something. After an unusually long wait this year, spring is finally bursting out. I’ve been looking at Earth Boxes: rectangular containers of fertilized dirt suspended on a platform above a well of water—gardening made simple enough even for me. There is something attractive about seeing new life sprout from the soil.
Jesus used the sprouting of seeds in several of his parables, including the parable of the seed growing secretly.
He also
said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on
the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed
would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of
itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the
head. (Mark 4:26-28)
Many seeds of the kingdom have already been sown, in the teaching
and example of Jesus. They are sprouting and growing, nourished by
the Holy Spirit. When and where they will spring forth from the
ground, we cannot predict. But we know that they will. And when they
do, our job is to weed, water and fertilize them, so that they may
mature and bear fruits of the reign of God.Now, sending me to hoe a garden would be a serious mistake. I can’t tell a weed from marigold unless the marigold is flowering. But stalks of the reign of God are easy to spot. They are acts of love and compassion, both large and small. One looks like a generous response to victims of tornadoes and floods. Another is shaped like an hour given to meals on wheels, or the food shelf, or habitat. Still another has the deep green of kind words or a quick note to someone who is ill or otherwise in distress. Also beautiful is celebration and encouragement of those who experience some new blessing.
Other gifts of God grow wild, but these require our nurture to thrive. When we do nurture them, they yield those delicious fruits of the spirit detailed in Galatians: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
As we move from spring into summer, I encourage you join God in planting seeds of love and compassion wherever you go. Nurture in yourself and others the plants of generosity, sharing, encouragement and celebration.
May you harvest the fruits of the Spirit.
~Tom
The Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Harries
