The season following Epiphany and
leading up to Lent is known as Ordinary Time on the liturgical calendar. During
this season, Christians are encouraged to grow spiritually, mature in their
faith, and strive in the building up of the church.
Daily devotionals, studying
scripture, and deepening one’s prayer life are examples of spiritual practices.
Being intentional about developing these habits can aid in building a strong
foundation for a flourishing faith.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9: "Hear, O
Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your
heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home
and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign
on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts
of your house and on your gates."
The tools used in this tableau
are intended to be symbolic. Scripture has a tradition of using imagery of
sowing seeds and laboring in the fields as examples of planting and multiplying
one’s faith. This tableau is intended as a visual representation of biblical
passages such as Matthew 9:37 or Luke 8:5 – 8.
Matthew 9:37-38:
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into
his harvest."
Luke 8:5 - 8: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
Luke 8:5 - 8: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
