We know that a spiritual life without prayer is an oxymoron. St. Teresa of Avila, the Doctor of Prayer, in her writings refers to our soul as an “enclosed garden.” We are called to consistent prayer in order to cultivate our “enclosed garden.” This includes our participation at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is thee prayer. Prayer helps us care for growth of the virtues, as well as, to be attentive in rooting out “weeds” of sin and vices.
Citing from a website, Angelus Press, there is a wonderful passage about Christ as the Gardener in light of the risen Christ’s first encounter with St. Mary Magdalene. It is so good that it is quoted here rather substantially:
Let us hear first from St. Jerome in his Homily 87: “When Mary Magdalene had seen the Lord and thought that He was the gardener…she thought that He was the gardener; she was mistaken, indeed, in her vision, but the very error had its prototype. Truly, indeed, was Jesus the gardener of His Paradise, of His trees of Paradise.” Now let us hear from St. Gregory the Great in his sermon on this same passage. “Perhaps this woman was not as mistaken as she appeared to be when she believed that Jesus was a gardener. Was he not spiritually a gardener for her when he planted the fruitful seeds of virtue in her heart by the force of his love?” It is clear that the Fathers are telling us that Mary Magdalene’s “mistake” is for our edification. In St. Jerome and St. Gregory we can truly say that Christ is the gardener, or as St. Gregory the Great puts it, a spiritual gardener.
And what is He tilling? Our souls, so that planting virtue and watering it by grace, he will raise up “spiritual trees” as St. Jerome calls it.
Now, to pull it all back together. How does this fit with the above questions of the counter balance between Adam and Christ? Adam, who was given dominion over all the Earth, squandered his glory by sin. From that point forward, he would only bring forth fruit from the Earth by the sweat of his brow. It would be hard work, contrary to the initial order established by God, where Adam was master of the garden of Paradise. He was, in a sense, the gardener, but through his bad stewardship, and his disobedience, he betrayed his authority and his God.
Contrast this with Christ, who is mistaken for the gardener. He has just done the work of bringing forth fruit and watering His garden through His Passion, and Death and complete obedience to the Father. Now that He has triumphed over the world, the flesh, and the Devil, we find Christ exactly where and how we should expect to find him; as the new Adam, in a garden, tilling the gardens of our souls.
I will close with a clever excerpt, titled “Gardening God’s Way.” Happy gardening your soul this summer and onwards! Saints Jerome, Gregory, and Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
Plant three rows of peas: Peace of mind Peace of heart Peace of soul
Plant four rows of squash: Squash gossip Squash indifference Squash grumbling Squash selfishness
Plant four rows of lettuce: Lettuce be faithful Lettuce be kind Lettuce be obedient Lettuce really love one another
No garden without turnips: Turnip for meetings Turnip for service Turnip to help one another
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love: There is much fruit in your garden Because you reap what you sow.
To conclude our garden we must have thyme: Thyme for God Thyme for study Thyme for prayer.