We Are Trees

Arbores sumus, fratres, in agro dominico constitutae. Deus est autem noster agricola: ille nos compluit, ille colit, ipse fecunditatem donat, ipse fructificandi gratiam subministrat. Pluvia Dei est sermo sanctae praedictionis, cultura Dei est infusio gratiae spiritalis. Deus igitur praecepto nos compluit, adjutorio colit. Dum compluit, aufert a nobis ignorantiae siccitatem; dum colit, bene vivendi condonat ubertatem; dum pluit, terram nostri cordis irrigat; dum vero colit, de ipsa terra spinas et tribulos mundanae cupiditatis exstirpat. Debemus itaque fecundari coelestibus pluviis, debemus congrua fructificatione manibus superni respondere cultoris. Et si non possunt omnes arbores aequales fructus afferre, nulla tamen debet in agro dominico sterilis permanere. Sanctus Fulgentius Ruspensis, Sermo Primus, De Dispensatoribus Domini Source: Migne 65.722c

We are trees, brothers, planted in the field of the Lord. God is our farmer, He waters us, He tends, He gives fecundity, He supplies the grace of fruitfulness. The rain of God is the word of holy preaching, the tending of God is the infusion of spiritual grace. God, then, waters us with precept, tends us with aid. While He waters He takes from us the aridity of ignorance; while He tends, He gives the richness of good living; while He rains He irrigates the earth of our hearts; while He tends He pulls up the thorns and thistles of worldly desires. Thus we should be fruitful by the heavenly rains and return appropriate fruits to the supernal hands of the farmer. And if we cannot all be equal in the fruits we bring forth, there should be no sterility in the field of the Lord. Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, from Sermon 1, On The Stewards of the Lord