Dear Friends of St. Anthony,
Like many of us, my wife and I have focused more on our garden during this locked down summer. She is of the mind-set that one can never have too many plants. It might be a bit embarrassing if I were to mention exactly how many tomato plants we grew from seed this year. Let’s just say if Italy runs out of red sauce this year, we have them covered!
We recently heard the parable of the Sower and the seed during Mass. Jesus describes the Kingdom actions of his Father as a farmer who indiscriminately sows seed over the whole earth irrespective of the quality of the soil. This is not good gardening! But it is a good Father! Some might wonder, what if my heart is rocky ground or filled with thorns? Well, our God is the God of creation and re-Creation! He can turn rocky soil into fertile land and he can turn rocky hearts into tender ones also. He doesn’t get picky. We are all given the grace to choose him and he doesn’t call us without equipping us to be his joyful followers.
Sometimes we work really hard in our gardens and sometimes life springs out of the most unusual places. A small maple tree has sprouted in the gutter attached to my roof. Who knows how long it will grow or how deep its roots can sink, but if I desire to, I could transplant it to good soil and let the ground continue to nurture it. God can do the same thing. Some of us are perfectly tended plants who have been cared for throughout our entire lives. Some of us are Maples growing in spite of the circumstances. Most of us find ourselves somewhere in between. Either way, God desires for us to spread our roots deeply and to thrive. Let us pray that we allow him to cultivate our hearts so that they will bear great fruit for the Kingdom!
Joseph White
Director