Working the Land

Gospel: Matthew 13: 18-23

A farmer goes about his land looking for arable land, knowing how much he needs to grow in order for the farm to succeed.  He does not have enough arable land, but he has other land.  It's not good land, but it can be made so.  The rocks and brambles will have to be taken out; the soil regenerated with mulch, compost, water, and fertilizer;  and the land plowed and turned over for aeration.  Then, the land will be ready to receive seed and produce fruitful harvests.  It will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it.

Each human life is like this other land.  None of us comes into the world a finished product ready to produce good fruit.  We all need to be worked over: our vices and sins removed; our lives enriched with grace, beauty, truth, and good example; and our spirits animated with the breath of the Holy Spirit moving over us and re-creating us anew.  It will be a lot of work and will require effort on our part, but it will be worth it.

Every human being is capable of this transformation.  No person is beyond it or a lost cause.  Each person can produce good fruit according to their capacities.  No human life is to be thrown away or given up on.  It is not the task of the disciple to judge the soil but to work with it and help make it good soil.  It is what we would want for ourselves, so we must help do for others.