Like the sower who planted in good soil, be true to your roots and stay the course

Years ago, I became fascinated with Robert Fulghum’s book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. One of my favorite passages was about the bean placed in a Styrofoam cup with soil. Miraculously, the bean sprouted several days later. The roots went down and the sprout went up. Easter is a season of roots: family roots, root vegetables from the garden, and particularly, roots of our faith.

The world that the Lord made began in harmony. There was light in the heavens, seas of water filled with fish, animals roamed the earth, and vegetation grew. Our Catholic faith is rooted in the garden of Eden, which was a paradise for Adam and Eve until they betrayed God. Their betrayal allowed sin and evil to enter through the devil’s temptations. Still victim to Satan’s deceit, mankind lives a perpetual freefall in our own gardens of Eden today.

Jesus speaks to our personal gardens in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13. The first sower dropped seeds that the birds ate. The second sower scattered seeds that were scorched by the sun and “withered for lack of roots” (Matt 13:6). The third sower failed to tend his garden, allowing thorns to choke and destroy the plants. Another sower planted seed in fertile soil so that it produced good fruit.

Which sower are you: the lazy one who focuses on worldly pursuits rather than spiritual; the one with good intentions to live in faith but fails; the one who cares more for material wealth than living by the virtues; or are you the Catholic soldier who stays the course, reads God’s word, and follows His commands even when the going gets tough?

Armed with faith and the name of Jesus on our lips, we are daily deployed for spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons who sow evil into our society, culture, professions, politics, economics, sciences, arts, mass media, and even faith. Prepare for spiritual warfare by putting on the armor of Christ, girding your loins with truth, and allowing righteousness to be your breastplate. The sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Confession, are powerful weapons in our arsenal — as are sacramentals such as crucifixes, rosaries, scapulars, holy water, religious medals, candles, devotionals, and novenas — which offer protection against evil. Be rooted in the faith of Christ, and remember that God’s love will always triumph over evil!  

CHEF JOHN D. FOLSE is an entrepreneur with interests ranging from restaurant development to food manufacturing, catering to culinary education. A cradle Catholic, he supports many Catholic organizations including the Sister Dulce Ministry at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, LA.

MICHAELA D. YORK is vice president of communications for Chef John Folse & Company.