I Want to Become Like Branches of a Large Tree

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto.

Matthew 13:1-9: A sower went out to sow. Jesus at the lakeside. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables. He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

The beauty of the hundredfold sown in souls. The Lord seems to speak with urgency, and with joy at the thought that his grace can indeed be sown in souls who will give many fruits, hundredfold. We have the desire to be that good soil, to make for a large tree, where the birds of the air can rest.

The seed fell into a mystical soul of Saint Bridget of Sweden, that brought many visions, a deep contact with the infancy of Christ.

The seed fell iinto the souls of these great saints. But it can fall into our soul too.

Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.

Thumbnail: Nativity, by Gerard David, 1495, Vienna Art History Museum