Trial, error, and growth are part of human life, and in nature this is reflected. As Jesus tells us in the Parable of the Sower, seeds grow according to the conditions they find themselves in; some grow well and bear fruit, others grow for a time, but die, and some do not grow at all. It all depends on where they fall.
Lately, I’ve been growing alfalfa sprouts in my kitchen. In order to grow, the seeds need to be washed with fresh water twice a day. The growth occurs in stages. The watered seed first swells, then bursts, then sends out an exploratory root, to test if there is sufficient nourishment and protection for the tender shoot to grow. Only when the root senses that the environment is friendly and supportive, will the shoot appear and begin to grow into a sprout. Stop watering, and the shoot never appears. Starve the sprout of water, and it wilts and dies.
Human beings seeking a community, test to see if the right conditions are present for them to grow and flourish happily. We speak of putting a feeler out, or testing the waters, to explore new ventures such as a property or business deal. Usually our testing is tentative. It’s like testing bath water – we put a toe or an elbow in to find out if it’s too hot or too cold. We don’t jump straight in, because we might get burnt. We taste food as we’re cooking it, to see if it’s too bland, too sour, too sweet, or too salty. We like the taste balance to be just right. We test church communities, too, to see if we can fit in and serve God well in that place. When we find the right conditions, we put down roots, and up comes a shoot. Like the alfalfa root’s explorations, our testing is completely legitimate. Like the alfalfa seed, we know that we are mortal and have human limitations: we must seek and find a generous supply of fresh water to flourish and grow.
Human beings begin as a tiny seed, gifted by God with life and the potential for growth. Despite a tendency to sin, the growth potential of a human seed is so great that scientists call it toti potenti – an unlimited potential to grow progressively into its destined form. The human blueprint is written (by God, Christians believe) into the DNA of our human cells, together with a marvellous, but circumscribed, ability to adapt to new environments.
As Christian human beings we grow towards God through Jesus Christ, but how does that process start? The Church teaches us that Christian baptism begins our journey to God, and confirmation provides us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us for mature Christian mission. We say that in baptism we experience death to sin, and gain the ability to turn to Christ for forgiveness from sins that recur. In this sense, immersion in baptismal water symbolises death to sin and rebirth into Christ. But since we all began as toti potenti seeds, and are now at various stages of growth, it is also meaningful to think of baptism as immersion in the water of life that nourishes the seed and enables it to send out an exploratory shoot. Indeed, human seeds are produced by mature human plants that bear and raise their children, brand new human seeds that need a reliable supply of generous nourishment, as well as gentle guidance, to grow. May God grant that all children of Christian parents will find nourishing Church communities where they can grow, flourish, and produce good fruit in the Kingdom of God.
