“a time to uproot the plant” (eccl 3:2)
“Through Him the whole body grows.” —Ephesians 4:16
God began His cultivation of the earth in the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:8ff). Man was assigned to care for the Garden of Eden, but man and woman didn’t care for the garden. Instead, they cared for their own curiosity. So man was banished from the garden. Then Jesus came and restored man’s access to God’s gardening. To do this, Jesus had to be betrayed, suffer anguish, and be arrested in a garden, Gethsemane. Finally, “in the place where [Jesus] had been crucified there was a garden” (Jn 19:41).
Mary Magdalene on the morning of the Resurrection thought Jesus was the Gardener (Jn 20:15). In a way, she was correct. Jesus restored the garden and made it surpass even the original beauty of Eden. He now calls us to join Him forever in “the garden of God” (Rv 2:7).
We are to grow from little plants (Eph 4:12-15) to full, fruitful plants. Jesus the Gardener gives us everything needed to flourish in His garden. But we don’t have unlimited time to bear fruit. There is a time of reaping fruit from our lives (see Lk 13:8-9). We have a merciful Gardener Who gives us every opportunity, and does so far more patiently than most gardeners ever will. So let us surrender all to the cultivation of Jesus the Gardener.
Even if we have had many fruitless, sinful years of life, Jesus the Gardener can make our lives beautiful and fruitful — by His grace and not our efforts. Like Mary, let it be done to us according to God’s will.
Prayer: Father, do in me whatever You must, to do through me whatever You will.
Promise: “Let us profess the truth in love and grow to the full maturity of Christ the Head.” —Eph 4:15
Praise: St. Anthony Claret is known as the spiritual father of Cuba. In his popular missions he placed emphasis on the Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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