God’s garden

St. Paul used garden imagery to convey something about our relationship with God. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth” (I Cor 3:6). He goes on to speak about being God’s co-workers and God’s field. We are co-workers with God in that we have an important role to play in God’s work in creating a world of peace, a world of justice, where all people are valued, a world where we can all develop our talents and enjoy the fruits of our labor. We help God to create this world.

Most of the time we do this in small ways and sometimes in bigger ways. We treat other people kindly. We give people the benefit of the doubt. We reach out in friendship. We lend a helping hand. We speak out against wrong actions and wrong speech. We follow the golden rule of treating others the way we would like to be treated.

We are also God’s field. Like the plants in our gardens that receive water and weeding, we are nourished and supported by family, friends, teachers, mentors, our church community, and civic institutions. And, just like in our garden, where we have to trust that the plants we care for will grow and thrive, so we have to trust that God will help us grow and thrive, that God will be with us throughout the ups and downs of life, that God cares for us, and that God’s love will help us to grow into loving and productive people.

So water the garden that is your life by connecting with God in prayer and sacraments, and trust that God will be there for you, that God will help you grow as a loving and faithful person, and that together we will make this world a more faithful expression of the reign of God’s love.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (I For 3:7).