Disciples do not harvest; they just sow. God supplies seed to the sower, multiplies it, and increases the harvest. Once the grain of wheat falls to the ground the sower ceases to matter, as the seed germinates and grows out of the earth to produce much fruit.
We had the opportunity to attend a powerful Catholic conference that gave us an important message encouraging us to sow seeds. Carolyn Woo, head of Catholic Relief Services said, “When we proclaim God—we—must—do— something. Action is required of us: As Jesus told Peter ‘Feed my sheep. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.’” It really spoke to us not only in the sense that we are called to help with the physical needs of our brothers and sisters here on Earth, but with their spiritual needs as well. Just the week before, the Gospel was from Luke 12 when Jesus told the parable of the rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, “What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?” So he decided to tear down his small barns and build larger ones to store all of his goods so he would be set for many years and would be able to rest, eat, drink and be merry! He never once thought to consult the Lord or share his good fortune with others. He hoarded all that he had acquired for himself.
This message reinforced for us the responsibility we have been given and commitment we need to uphold as baptized Catholics and Cursillistas-- to share the good news and the joy that we have been given through the Charism of Cursillo. All of us have been sharing in God’s amazing abundance through the Cursillo movement. We have been asked to scatter the seeds to everyone in our environments. What’s being asked of us is to sow seeds through authentic friendship; sharing ourselves and our stories and building trust among those we meet.
Most people that we encounter in our “square meter” or environments are pre-cursillo! This means that we are to show everyone we encounter the face of Christ. This includes people that can’t or don’t currently recognize it as the face of Christ. This is scattering the seed. They will recognize kindness and perhaps feel loved allowing a seed to be planted. In time God will show us who to invite to be a candidate on a Cursillo weekend. In the mean time we must continually work to be centered in our own growth in piety, study and action. We must work to have personal contact with others, an authentic witness and do authentic palanca. We must build trust in our friendships, show love and maintain friendship before, during and after inviting them to the Cursillo weekend.
God has given me an analogy that has been developing over the last six years. We have had a print of a lovely, tranquil, tree lined path with beautiful fall colors in our home for 16 years. For the first 10 years of owning it, that’s all that I had seen—a lovely scenic picture. It hangs above the fireplace in our room. About 6 years ago I was asked to give the environments talk for a Cursillo weekend so had been thinking about the talk and praying for guidance on what to share. One evening I was lying on my bed facing the picture with my vantage point being sideways to the picture. All of a sudden I saw a face within the picture plain as day. The message I felt God was telling me to share was that He has always been there with me whether I have been able to see Him or not. He is always in our environments waiting for us to invite Him in. That was a really cool and tangible way to share that message which I did, and on I went with my life. Well lo and behold, shortly thereafter I would begin to see face after face woven into this print. Just when I started to think there can’t possibly be another new face to be found, there it was. For a couple of years now I’ve been wondering-“God what are you trying to show me? There has got to be something to this!” Now I know what it is. God is showing me, and now all of us that we are never done recognizing another sister or brother in our environment that we are to show the love of Christ to— to be friend-to evangelize to- to invite to the table. He is saying, “keep your heart open. I am a God of abundance, bring all to me.”
God bless each of you in this new year!
Justine & Bill Bojan
