Here, however, there is an elementary difference: in us, the characteristics of the adult tree are contained, only to a small extent, in the seed: it is our formation and, above all, our will that must decide what we are to be
Newsdesk (15/06/2021 19:15, Gaudium Press) It is striking how, in simple allegories, the God-Man manages to transmit such profound lessons and principles.
A certain historian rightly affirms that the Gospels were not written by men of talent, eager to express themselves in a work, but out of necessity and circumstance, as a testimony and means of action: “How did this history of Christian letters, destined for such great glory, begin? Jesus did not write, but he spoke, and with so much art, so much power!
‘No man ever spoke like this man’, the Temple guards had acknowledged (Jn 7:46). Many had confessed that they were amazed by His authority. Jesus spoke simply and clearly, in such a way that the most uneducated could understand him. His words had the good fragrance of natural things: of the earth as it is worked, of the tree full of fruit, of water beaten by the wind, of ripe crops. But in those words, one sensed great mysteries, and sometimes there shone on His lips expressions which struck the heart.”[1]
The figure of a simple mustard seed or a tree which shelters birds under its shadow becomes, on the lips of the Redeemer, capable of representing that which is highest: the Kingdom of Heaven.
These images present in today’s liturgy, not only in the Gospel but also in the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm, are very evocative; we can draw many lessons from them.
In Psalm 91 we see the just man compared to a palm tree and to the cedar of Lebanon. Now, this figure of the tree can, under different aspects and, of course, with some adaptations, also be applied to the human soul.
At birth, we are little seeds, promises of a future. We receive water from the examples of those around us, light from the instruction of our parents and teachers; soon sprouts shoot out as early indicators of what we will be in the future.
However, there is an elementary difference here: in us, the characteristics of the adult tree are not contained, except to a small extent, in the seed; it is our formation and, above all, our will which decide what we shall be: green trees, full of the sweet fruits of virtue and goodness, or withered plants, producing noxious and poisonous fruit which sometimes look like good berries.
It is our will that defines this future, since it is we who choose with which waters we shall irrigate our spiritual roots: with Divine Grace or with the toxic liquids of sin.
Our existence on Earth is brief and very serious, for we shall all give an account of our acts one day in the Court of Divine Justice. There we will receive “the due reward – the prize or punishment – for what we have done during our physical life.” (Cf. 2 Cor 10).
May we hope that on that day we do not hear words similar to those of St. Augustine when he addressed a certain class of people: “Your praises are the leaves of a tree, but I would like to see the fruit!”
That we might truly be what we ought to be, the Daily Prayer brings us a solution: “Since we can do nothing in our weakness, give us always the help of Your grace, that we may desire and act according to Your Will.”
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, in one of her beautiful poems, imagined a wonderful tree on earth called Love, whose roots were mysteriously fixed in the heavens. Its sweet fruit was Abandonment, which already in this life conferred ineffable happiness upon men.
Let us, therefore, draw near to this blessed tree which is Divine Love, let us take shelter in its shade and not hesitate to delight in the fruit of abandonment to the will of God, the best guarantee of our salvation.
By Afonso Costa
1] DANIEL-ROPS, Henri. History of the Church of Christ. The Church of the Apostles and the martyrs. São Paulo: Quadrante, 1988, pp. 243-244.
2] Cf. Idem. The Church in Barbarian Times. Sao Paulo: Quadrante, 1991, pp. 32-33.
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