Our Lady Of Good Counsel

We hear or read in the news about stories of many farmers having a hard time planting due to the El Niño effect. Droughts are affecting plantations and often- times we experience that too in our islands. We are glad at times because rain comes every now and then but when summer comes lands become dry. When such things happen, planted seeds or plants cannot grow well, wither, die and eventually burnt for its no use. No fruits to pick or crops to harvest because the seeds did not grow. For farmers, it would just be a waste of time and money. Feelings of frustration or disappointment emerge. But on the other side of the coin, hope still flourishes for the next planting and harvest season. In as much as they may experience unproductiveness from all their labors and sacrifices, farmers still have a way to get things through.

Jesus’ parables this Sunday enable us to ponder more deeply about the seed of faith planted in our soul. These parables that He used, the Parable of the Seed sown and the Parable of the Mustard Seed, convey a deep sense of understanding how things work out for faith to grow in our daily lives. Seeds were sown and its growth may not be that all impressive from the beginning but grow eventually and become fruitful. That goes the same thing with our faith. Once we embrace our faith in Jesus and allow Him to take hold of our lives, this little seed of faith can grow wonderfully and amazingly that it affects tremendously our way of life, our way of thinking,

our way of relating with other people and with our God.

As the Father had planted the seed of faith in us, it is expected of us that we also have to cultivate it. This can be done if we allow ourselves to be molded by God’s Word and carry them out every day of our lives. If we carry out God’s Word from day to day we reap a harvest of a faithful loving relationship among family members, honesty, and dedication to our work and authentic reception and worship of receiving the Lord in the Eucharist. Not only that we become Faithful in all His ways but our lives become Faith-filled where Jesus becomes the center of our minds and hearts.

Growth in our spiritual life is essential. It needs improvement and extra care. Like a seed when nurtured and taken cared of brings about goodness and immensity. Our lives will be filled up with grace and virtue. It impels us to act truthfully, justly and morally. Our human actions are geared towards respect and charity, forgiveness and humility, faithfulness and kindness. Jesus showed us how. Now it is just a matter of living and reliving the way He lived. Every word He spoke and every action He did were all the seeds sown in each one of us. And when we live up to it, then we can grow spiritually. And when that day and time will come, God will certainly treat us the way how we lived our life and faith. ╬