Living in the Vine, Week 5: Weeds, day one

“Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much , some sixty and some thirty...

the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit.

(Amplified bible Matthew 13: 3-9, 22)

Welcome to Week 5 of our Lenten retreat. Last week we focused on the need for pruning - of grapevines and ourselves. This week we consider the weeds and thorns that can grow up amidst the vines. Pruning is done to the branches themselves, shaping and guiding them, so that they can produce sweeter, more abundant fruit. But weeding is focused on what is growing outside the vine and branches, threatening to choke out life.

Weeding keeps grass and other plants from growing under grapevines. This allows the soil to heat up early in the spring and maintain higher soil temperatures to encourage growth. When plants grow under vines, the soil temperature stays cooler, which will delay growth in the spring. Hoeing gently under the vines helps keep the ground under the vines clear of other plants. Some growers have trained sheep to eat only the weeds and not the vines.

from Kate Rae Davis (God Space):

"As any gardener knows (and I am certainly learning), the presence of weeds may feel like a cause for battle. But, my wiser garden mentors tell me, weeds are actually a very useful tool. To the gardener who knows how to read the signs, weeds are an indicator of the condition of the soil. If the soil is too wet, it will attract certain weeds; if it’s too compacted, different weeds; if it is too acidic, too alkaline, too full of phosphorous — each situation will attract its own type of weeds... A wise farmer pays attention to the weeds... and learns from their presence."

In the above passage, Jesus talks about the worries and distractions that can choke out life, and I am reminded of the passage in Luke of Jesus, in the home of Mary and Martha, when he tells Martha, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed -- indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will never be taken away from her." Like Martha, we can easily get tangled up in the weeds of distractions and worries in our lives, and lose sight of what is most important. Especially when we believe we are being responsible and doing "good" things. There are many of us who can identify with Martha, and I believe most of us have parts of both Mary and Martha in us. But it's clear: out of love, Jesus urges her not to miss out on the gift his presence offers her.

Henri Nouwen writes, "Jesus invites us to abide in his love. That means to dwell with all that I am in him. It is an invitation to a total belonging, to full intimacy, to an unlimited being-with."

This Lent we have been sharing different aspects of abiding in the vine: we in Christ and Christ in us. This is Jesus' prayer. "Total belong... full intimacy... unlimited being-with." Can we even imagine such abiding?

There is one thing in this world

which you must never forget to do.

If you forget everything else and not this,

there is nothing to worry about,

but it you remember everything else and forget this,

you will have done nothing in your life.

It is as if a king has sent you to some country

to do a task, and you perform a hundred other services,

but not the one he sent you to do...

Remember the deep root of your being,

the presence of your Lord.

Give your life to the one who

already owns your breath and your moments..."

(Rumi)

Song: Breathe In by Peter Mayer https://youtu.be/JJ0horvBHWc

For Reflection:

As the vine grower needs to be knowledgeable about weeds that threaten the vines, it is good for us to be wise about the thorns in our life and what they might be showing us.

What nourishment does your "soil" need?

Are you getting enough light and water? (both physically and spiritually imperative)

What helps you remember and strengthen your rootedness?

Resources:

Kate Rae David, Listening to the Wheat and the Weeds, June 24, 2016, www.godspacelight.com.

painting by Johannes Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1665

Henri Nouwen (source unknown)

Coleman Barks, The Soul of Rumi, New York: Harper Collins, 2001, p. 149.