I have been into planting seeds and watching them germinate and grow
into a plant. In the process, I realized that not every seed sprouts. Not every
seedling survives and grows into a nice plant. No matter how much I want them
to.
The most challenging so far is to grow
lemon balm. For those few that sprouted, they usually died shortly after, despite
me giving it enough water. I later discovered that worms invaded the soil and
killed my seedlings. I refused to give up. I planted more seeds again, read up
on the conditions lemon balm needs. Only recently had I found out that I was watering
my seedlings too much, which invited flies to lay eggs and the roots would also
rot. After many tries, my lemon balm seedlings now are finally growing well.
The strangest was when I was growing
basil. I sowed basil seeds and was most delighted when they sprouted. I happily
transferred the tiny seedlings into a nice pot of soil and later found out that
somehow – and I am totally clueless about this even till today – what was
growing in that pot was not basil but weeds. The landscaper at my place told
me. Well, it is quite a nice weed with green leaves with a tinge of yellow. So
I decided to let it grow in my pot anyhow. It is life all the same.
Last Sunday’s Gospel spoke about a
farmer sowing seeds, which fell on different kinds of grounds. In our
apostolate work, we are like farmers sowing seeds for God’s Kingdom. I would
like to draw our attention today to the disposition of the sower. When we sow,
what is subtly going on within us? Do we attach conditions to our sowing?
Prerequisites?
It would be quite silly of me to,
before planting these seeds, examine, evaluate, calculate (if I can) each of
their internal composition, hypothesize and conclude which will germinate and
grow into a healthy plant and which will not. I do not do research or alter the
genes of the seed to control the outcome. As a farmer, as a sower, I simply
sow. That is what I am called to do.
However, it is not always that I find
it easy to apply this same attitude to sowing seeds for God’s Kingdom. For all
too often, I judge prematurely if someone is good soil for me to sow seeds on.
If I suspect that it might not reap much results, I would subconsciously avoid
reaching out and turn towards others who might have a greater potential in
responding positively to my sowing. I sow with the harvest as my focus. But the
harvest is not within my control. It is God’s to control. I can do my best to
give my seeds and seedlings the best conditions I know they need but yet their
survival is hardly my doing because if it were, then all my seeds would have
grown into healthy plants just as I will for them to. I do not breathe life into
them. God does. And He sustains them with His breath.
So it is in our apostolate work. Wherever
there are seeds to be sown, let us sow and let God breathe His life into our
work. When seedlings die after some time, let us sow again. And again. For God
never gives up on His beloved people. When weeds grow, may our disappointment
not keep us from trying again.
Definitely, we do not reach out to
everyone in the same manner. We do need to be discerning about where people
are, what they are ready for, what is their style, etc. It is not a one size
fits all. If someone is truly unreceptive or difficult to approach, it does not
mean we give up on that person. Our way of sowing can be altered. Even a genuine
smile or a simple “Have a good day” towards one who only responds with a glare.
Just as the first reading also told us, that God’s word does not return to Him
without it having done what God had willed, any love we sow would not return to
us without it having moved something that perhaps was too hidden from our sight
to notice. Every seed of mercy, every seed of compassion. God sees them all and
blesses them all. Love itself is His breath and life.
May we be good soil for God’s love to
take root in us so that we may be good sowers of His life and love in the lives
of those He sends to us.
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