“Brothers and sisters: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You are being enriched every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.”—2 Corinthians 9: 6-11
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They sowed richly. Earth prepared, they planted too much—culling, thinning, spreading in replanting as they went.
From the earth, their bounty grew, and they took pleasure in the simple, earthen joy of tending to their garden and bringing beginning-hope at season’ start into bearing of its fruit.
Vines hung heavy in their baskets in weight of their red, ripe fruit. Squash in their broad-leaved spread with hearts of green, yellow, and shades between they would eat in the season and save away in protection of their skins.
Watermelon grew, and when unwatered save from heaven-sky, were sweetest they’d ever known: doing their part—tending to and caring for—as God above did His.
From summer’s height, when first fruit of the garden was brought in, until killing frost they celebrated in quiet prayer—which is one’s work and expending of one’s self—in joy and thanksgiving for what their garden brought to bear.
They sowed too much.
They reaped the same: love and joy and all this world and life can offer in season aligned in growth to God’s above.
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First reading from the morning Mass, she smiled on its speak. Wednesday of the eleventh week in Ordinary time—most-common of days on a life in the middle—God spoke to her on page.
From muse of the words, she looked to lawn and her corner garden-spread: sowed richly, it rose and grew in bountiful ripening of fruit for reap and leaves she cut for greens.
Doubting, hiding—reticent in faith—God sought and found her still, speaking in words and way she understood by knowing of the soul.