Seeds

Written by Stephanie Bowman, Associate Chaplain, Felician Village Mission Department

Summer is in full swing and for those of you who planted a garden (or visit the farmer’s market!), you know that those tiny little seeds that were planted have now begun to grow and produce beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Seeds are really miraculous things. Those tiny, little seeds have tremendous power and the ability to grow to many times their size. Those little seeds make a big difference: they produce fruits and vegetables that feed many people, bring beautiful flowers which provide food for insects and joy to the viewer, and even grow into tall trees that provide us with oxygen, shade, and homes for the birds.

Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed and said that “though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:32) Jesus was reminding us that small things can have great power. St. Therese of Lisieux understood the power of small things very well. As a Carmelite nun, Therese felt she would never be able to perform great deeds but that didn’t stop her from doing what she could. “Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.”

We too have many opportunities each day to scatter seeds of love like flowers into the lives of all we meet. Thankfully, we don’t have to make grand gestures. Just like the mustard seed, the power of the small acts of love that we share with others have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of others. Let this summer season be a reminder of the power of a tiny seed. May God give us the grace to sow small seeds of love around us each day.