Planting and Harvesting

Wednesday of this past week was the feast of St. Isidore the farmer.  This is the time we bless the land.  Fields, orchards, and gardens are all blessed so there may be a bounty from which to feed many.  This is a major church season.  Our Christian roots are agricultural.  Jesus talked of farmers sowing, shepherds gathering, lands yielding, trees bearing fruit—it was the visible world of his day. For most of us the world of produce is the supermarket.  But we still need the yield of mother earth to meet the hungers of our body and soul. 

The growing season for which we seek blessing is ninety days; from May 15^th to August 15^th.  The conclusion of the growing season is the harvest of late summer.  The solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven concludes the growing season.  Mary is Queen of the harvest.  Resurrection to the Christian is the conclusion of life — the harvest — the blessings of those who bear much fruit.  From the planting of earth with Isidore on this past Wednesday to the harvest of souls, and the harvest of the land, on August 15^th, the liturgical year constantly echoes the parables of the seasons of our soul.

Mother earth is changing.  We do not need to watch the weather reports to know this to be true.  New Mexico is at present the most severe of the drought states.  Others are too wet to plant because of spring flooding.  No one can pray like a farmer prays.  No one hopes and waits like those who work the land.

The prophet Isaiah talks about the Spirit being like rain that comes watering the fields bringing forth life and returning from where it came.  If you prefer to hear it in rap, it would go something like this:  No rain, no grain . . .

No grain, no bread . . .  No bread, you’re dead!

Today we are reminded that we are both planters and harvesters.  We are the seeds and yield.  We are the fruit, the gifts, and the Spirit.  We are more than a ninety day investment of the earth.  We are the bounty of God for all seasons.  As the hymn says, Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth”.