Sowing And Reaping

Et seminaverunt agros, et plantaverunt vineas; et fecerunt fructum nativitatis. Et benedixit eos, et multiplicati sunt nimis, et iumenta eorum non sunt minorata. Seminant agros et plantant vineas qui corpora sua mundatis sentibus peccatorum coelesti institutione purificant; ut fructus illos inveniant, qui Domino placere noscuntur. Felix labor, proventus mirabilis, sic operari ut Redemptor gentium placatus possit agnosci. Ager enim dictus est ab agendo, quod ibi diversa victus causa peragantur. Addidit, et fecerunt fructum nativitatis, et benedixit eos, et multiplicati sunt nimis. Fructus a fruendo dicitur; et ideo qui fructum spiritualem faciunt, benedictione Domini perfruuntur: quos vero infecundos esse contigerit, absciduntur; sicut Evangelii illa ficulnea, quae luxuriantibus foliis sterilis videbatur in pomis. Multiplicati sunt autem, quando fideles benedicti sanctas operas intulerunt, et gloriosiores facti sunt per Dei gratiam fecunditate meritorum. Sequitur, et iumenta eorum non sunt minorata. Iumenta simplices homines debemus accipere, fidei quidem probitate pollentes, sed nulla disertitudine gloriosos, meliores vita quam lingua: plurimum valentes, non sermone, sed corde, qualem Paulum legimus simplicem qui daemonibus imperavit. Tales ergo non sunt minores facti, qui magnam videntur Domini gratiam consecuti. Sic ista hominum duo genera habere sanctam testatur Ecclesiam. Cassiodorus, Expositio In Psalterium, Psalmus CVI Source: Migne PG 70.775c-d

And they sowed fields and planted vines and they made the fruit of nativity. And He blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly, and their cattle suffered no decrease. 1 They sow fields and plant vines who cleanse their bodies of the worldly experience of sins by means of heavenly instruction. As a result they attain the fruits known to be pleasing to the Lord. It is a joyful toil and wonderful harvest if our work enables us to come to know the favour of the Redeemer of the Gentiles. 'Ager', field, receives its name from 'agere' to act, because different activities which are carried out in the fields obtain a livelihood. It is added: 'And they made the fruit of nativity, and He blessed them and they were multiplied exceedingly.' 'Fructus', fruit, receives its name from 'frui', to enjoy, and so those who produce spiritual fruit enjoy the Lord's blessing, while those who are sterile are lopped off like the fig tree in the Gospel which was found to have abundant foliage but to be barren of fruit. 2 'They were multiplied' when the blessed faithful brought forth their holy activites, and through God's grace achieved greater glory by the fertility of their merits. It follows: 'And their cattle suffered no decrease.' We must interpret cattle as the simple people who are healthy in proven faith but lack fame in eloquence, better, then, at living than speaking. They are very strong in heart but not in speech, like the simple Paul who we read gave commands to demons. 3 Such men suffered no decrease but are seen to have won great favour with the Lord. So the Psalmist bears witness that the holy Church contains these two kinds of people. Cassiodorus, Commentary On The Psalms, Psalm 106 1 Ps 106.37-38 2 Mt 21.18-19 3 Acts 16.16-18