Daily Reflection for Wednesday, July 08, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070820.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Hosea 10: 1-3, 7-8, 12
Responsorial: Psalm 105: 2-7
Gospel: Matthew: 10: 1-7
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come down and rain justice upon you.” Hosea 10: 12
The section of this scripture verse that keeps drawing me back is “break up for yourselves a new field.”
My grandfather was a farmer in Nebraska. During the winter, he cared for the livestock and planned for spring. He had a whole notebook of field charts, seed books, the Farmer’s Almanac, and research on fertilizers, sun and rain requirements, weed control, and timing from planting through harvest. For the good of the soil and best yield, he rotated beans and corn, and alternated summer and winter wheat for the livestock. He planned which crops would be planted in the various sections of land. Even the direction of the crop rows was important because plows, trucks, harvesters and other machines could tip on the side of hills and there was always erosion to consider. He planned carefully. Their livelihood and the health of farm hands depended on it.
My grandfather also planted the seeds of faith in his children and grandchildren. On his way out the door he often threw out a verse or Christian tidbit for us to think about throughout the day and discuss at the evening meal. He knew his family well. He knew the struggles of the times and the struggles of his children at various stages in their lives. He spent his life breaking up new fields in the land…and in our hearts. He planted and harvested seeds for the Lord to feed his family and their souls.
Grandpa taught us to prayerfully break up for ourselves a new field, seek the Lord and harvest a new crop in our hearts.
Each day, you and I have the opportunity to break up for ourselves a new field and see what Jesus grows in our hearts. Meditating on the teaching of Jesus with an open heart is a great place to start.
God’s Blessings to You!
Ruth Mytty