Growth and Rebirth

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!"