Psalm Reflection: The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

“The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.” - Psalm 65

I think everyone is going to have weird stories about what they did during quarantine: new hobbies, creativity, and how we found ways to pass the time. 

My wife and I, for example, started composting. My wife has a green thumb; I do not. So this adventure has been a huge learning experience for me. Although I am passionate about reducing waste and being a good steward of the environment, every plant I have ever owned has immediately died under my “care.” I have learned a lot about patience and process when it comes to gardening—something I am sure Jesus’ audience knew well when they heard the Parable of the Sower (this Sunday’s Gospel), and the words of Psalm 65.

In order for a seed to grow, it needs some essential things. 

First of all, it needs good soil. Our environment matters, and that includes our community. In this time of limited community, have you been creative in staying connected and reaching out to friends and family, or have you spent more time with Netflix than other humans? What about the environment of your home? Have you created a space that lends itself toward prayer, reflection, learning, and creativity? Or does your environment look like one large comfy bed? Our environment matters, and a healthy one will bring fruitful growth.

Second of all, a seed needs water like humans need oxygen. Without water, there is no way for a plant to get the nutrients it needs to grow. Prayer and the Sacraments are our spiritual waters. We need to be in relationship with God daily, talking to Him and allowing Him to nourish us. This is challenging being disconnected from the Sacraments, but God is omnipresent. He is EVERYWHERE. If we feel like we can’t encounter God because of the pandemic, that is an US problem, not a God problem. How can this time be an opportunity to enter into deeper and different forms of personal prayer to stay connected to God, and participate in the Sacraments in whatever way you are able: drive-through confessionals and communion reception, digital Masses, and whatever in-person Sacraments are offered if you are comfortable doing so.

Lastly, seeds need sun to grow. If they are obscured by shade or larger plants, they will not grow. For us, we need to be in a state of grace. Jesus is our light, but sin obscures and distorts our ability to receive that light. The longer we persist in the shade of sin, the more difficult a spiritual blossoming will be. Maybe having limited access to confession is finally the opportunity we need to uproot sin instead of relying on the ability to receive the Sacrament whenever we want. Whatever this looks like for you, find friends and habits to keep you accountable during this time when it is easier to fall into certain sins more frequently.

I am reminded of the story of the mustard seed, one of the smallest seeds that would grow into the largest tree in the region at the time Jesus lived. I know this year has been challenging, it has certainly made me feel small, helpless, and insignificant at times. Our lives have literally been pruned and even uprooted. However, even in these strained circumstances without the spiritual routines we are used to, it is still possible to be replanted and find ways to receive what we need to grow, blossom and thrive, no matter the circumstances. Things will look different, but that does not mean they cannot be fruitful. Let’s rebuild the Garden, one blooming heart at a time.

We are praying for you this week.

See you in the Eucharist.

Matt