If you Google ‘Harvest Festivals’ you will get 14 billion hits; there’s that much information about acknowledging and celebrating the time to harvest! This could be because ancient people understood that harvesting crops meant food would be available which meant survival. Harvesting crops has been a big deal since our species became agriculturally savvy.
Harvesting is typically a reference to fruits and vegetables, of course, so what’s the spiritual equivalent to salad? If the Lord’s business is cultivating the goodness of the human souls who comprise the Body of Christ (which is potentially everyone, only He knows the who), what grows within us to assist with the Lord with His business of growing goodness within others?
I used to jump right into ideas about skills and talents, understandings and insights, as produce that the Lord has planted within us, which grow and are ready to be harvested. In fact, the first draft of this reflection include lots of those sorts of questions. However, after writing to pray on this gospel passage for weeks (you may have noticed I’m late with my posting), I think its lots simpler… and harder… than skills and talents.
The harvest is abundant… this implies a readiness for whatever is next. Harvesting crops implies a fulfillment of intended purpose, a transition from becoming to fulfilling, from growing to fullness, from incomplete to completeness. It implies a traverse from using nutrients for personal growth to providing nutrients for others to grow, a crossing over from self to others.
According to lots of biblical passages and Catholic doctrine, performing good works, noticing the needs of others and helping them, being empathetic and compassionate… these are the seeds that the Lord has planted and wants to cultivate. At the end of the day or the growing season, perhaps the Lord just wants us to be kind to the other souls He’s taken the care to create. Perhaps it is as simple as that.
Reflection Questions
1. Looking at your life as a garden, and your skills and talents as that which grows, reflect on the following questions: (Yes, I kept this question; it’s still worth reflection). a) What has grown like a weed, choking out the viable, edible, nutritious plants? b) What have you intentionally planted, cultivated and nurtured over the past year or few? c) What might be ready for harvest?
2. Looking at the Body of Christ as a garden, what projects or endeavors are you engaged in that are ready for transition from growing and developing, into taking care of others and fulfilling their intended purpose?
3. If, as I suggest above, that which the Lord has planted and is wanting to harvest, is simply goodness, how do you measure or know if you are ready for harvest? How does goodness manifest itself in your life? Are there people in your life who are role models for you as far as being good?
Writing to Pray 