The Holy Priest-Martyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata (379-80)
Apostles’ Fast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
Romans 16:1-16; Matthew 13:3-9
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Do we take care to tend to seeds that have been sown? The seeds of faith are like any seed, as we read in the parable of the sower in today’s Gospel. The purpose of a seed is not to lie dormant -that is not its end. All things in Creation have an end and the end of a seed is to produce something like that from which it came, such as a seed that yields beautiful annual flowers after we sow it in the spring in our gardens. Or, perhaps it is an apple seed that produces an apple tree which yields beautiful and delicious apples and more seeds to produce more apple trees and more apples. In order to bear fruit, all seeds need rich soil. We must take care that the soil of our body, heart, and mind is that rich soil in which the seeds of faith sown in our baptism are able to bear fruit. These seeds must be cultivated by prayer and participation in the Holy Mysteries so that they might achieve their purpose: to lead us evermore to desire union with God. We must also help the seeds of faith to germinate by associating with those fellow Christians who are examples to us and show us how beautiful the fruit of faith is through their joy and humility -they are like fertilizer that enriches our own cultivation. Strong faith is borne from a seed that has been tended in good soil.
We must also take care to see that we nurture the seeds of faith in those around us who desire to taste its fruit. We must always be aware of friends, family, and others Our Lord brings into our path who long for faith. Through our words, actions, and example we can help cultivate the seeds of faith in another. If we do not tend to these seeds in ourselves they will fail to achieve their purpose and slowly but surely our faith will shrivel and bear no fruit. May Our Lord Jesus Christ continue to plant the seeds of faith again and again within us that they may germinate and grow into a garden of joy, of peace, of mercy, and of love.