We must know what season of the year it is. If a farmer in the Northern hemisphere works hard planting corn in December, he is wasting his time and his corn seeds, for it is not the season to plant. If he waits till winter to harvest his crops, he will lose his crops and starve, because autumn, not winter, is the season for harvesting. To know the season in an agrarian society is a matter of life and death.
Jesus told us that we must know the spiritual seasons. If we are in the autumn of our lives or of our world, we are fools if we are acting as if we have a lot of time left. If we missed the season for planting, how can we harvest anything? Knowing the spiritual season can be a matter of salvation or damnation.
We can know the spiritual seasons by observing "the fig tree, or any other tree" (Lk 21:29). The Lord sometimes likens His people to a tree (see Lk 13:6ff; Mk 11:13ff; Ps 80:9). Consequently, we can know the spiritual season by looking at God's people throughout the world. Are we bearing much fruit? Then it must be the spiritual season of summer. Are we reaping the harvest of evangelization? Then it must be autumn. If we are not bearing fruit, we may be in the winter of dying to self or in our self-made winter of sin.
Look at the Church. Look at yourself as a member of the Church. Which spiritual season is God's will for you? Is that the season in which you have chosen to live?
| PRAYER: | Father, may I be in Your season. |
| PROMISE: | "Know that the reign of God is near." –Lk 21:31 |
| PRAISE: | The Windsor family prays a Rosary together every night. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College