Cover Me in Manure

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 7:38 pm by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

Cover Me in Manure 2015-01-11T19:38:33-04:00 Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells a parable about the owner of a vineyard who came in search of fruit on one of his fig trees and found none. The owner tells the gardener that he has been looking for fruit on this tree for three years and has found nothing so he tells him to cut the tree down, it is useless.

The gardener understands his frustration but asks the owner to wait a while before cutting it down. He says: “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” (Lk 13:9)

God truly is our kind and generous gardener. He does not lose patience with us. Instead, he waits for the opportune time to help us to bear fruit. As humans, most of us are not born knowing our purpose in life. We search, often in the wrong places for meaning and often we do not find it. This can lead to feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. But often, we are too busy to pay attention, or we make ourselves busy so we do not have to pay attention.

One woman recently said to me, “People need silence and they don’t even know it.”

She is right but I understand why people, even the ones who know they need it, don’t want to sit in silence. In the silence, the lack of meaning in our lives and all the crap that we have not worked through floats to the top. I know this from experience. Being silent often involves a certain degree of discomfort, sometimes a lot of discomfort and pain.

When we are silent, we open ourselves to God’s presence but we are also opening our souls to His manure and the work of His sharp hoe.

God doesn’t just want to chill with us in the silence, He wants to work on our souls. And that hurts.

But you know, after living a life that involves a lot more silence over the past year, I can definitely say that although it can be extremely painful to face up to the things that are inside of me and the wounds that I have experienced in life, many that are self-inflicted, I can honestly say it is worth it. I feel like God, the champion gardener, is preparing my soul to bear a unique and beautiful fruit that no one else can give to the world. And he wants to do that with all of us. We are each made for a unique and beautiful purpose to make a difference in the world.

Happy gardening.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 14, 2011

Tear Down Your Paneled House

Next Post

November 11, 2011 Stock Up on Toilet Paper, Armageddon is Coming

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the most common staple grain in ancient Israel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Oats Barley Rice Wheat