A Great Harvest

By: Ivonne J. Hernandez

I was recently interviewed about my work with Elisheba House. Towards the end of the conversation, the interviewer asked, “How would you like to be remembered?” It was interesting to have a few quick seconds to think about that. My response was that other than by my children and my family, I really do not care if I am remembered. And now that I’ve had a bit longer to think about it, I am pleased to find that my answer remains the same. I do care deeply about how my children will remember me; I care about how they will remember us.  I hope they remember the lessons we’ve taught them, but above all, I hope they carry within them the knowledge that they are incarnate love.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies…” (John 12:24)
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In our home, we have a Sacrament Wall. It is a collection of pictures from our children’s sacraments. These pictures flow from a picture of our wedding day, and a frame that says, “All because two people fell in love”. We also have pictures from our parents' weddings, which is where we all came from. Sacraments flowing from sacraments; love flowing from Love. Family, identity, HOME. Home is the field where our seeds are scattered and sowed.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
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But what is this seed that we sow? It is whatever God has given to us. Whatever gifts, whatever talents, whatever love. Every sacrifice, every tear, every joy. We must first plant the seeds in our homes. This is our field, our turf, our responsibility. We have a parcel in the Kingdom that we are responsible for. But we do not exist in isolation. Our land is adjacent to another’s; we are part of a greater whole. If we have more than we need, we must offer it back to God. 

“Lavishly he gives to the poor; his righteousness shall endure forever.” (Psalm 112:9)
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In Parable of the Rich Fool, we hear of a man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. When he saw he had no space to store it, he tore down his barns and built larger ones. 

“But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus, will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God. (Luke 12:20-21)
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What things matter to God? ​

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” (Matthew 6:8-10)

“Your Kingdom come…” Like a hidden treasure, a merchant looking for fine pearls, a fishing net, yeast, or a mustard seed, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

“A sower went out to sow…”  (Matthew 13:3)

When we have given our home what justice requires, and we offer the surplus to God, we participate in the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. Now that my children are older and they require less of my time at home, I am free to offer my gifts to God. He has called me to write, to teach, to share the lessons learned in the school of love. I do not go sowing wherever I think, I wait for instructions, for God is the Lord of the Harvest. I just try to remain receptive and perceptive to the Spirit and let him scatter what has been sown. As for me, my eyes are still watching our home. Rather than thinking about how strangers will remember me, I think of how perhaps my children one day will read something I wrote, and it will point them to the Love of God.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24)
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Ivonne J. Hernandez

Ivonne is a Catholic wife, mother, Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, President of Elisheba House, speaker, and writer. Author of The Rosary: Eucharistic Meditations. Regular contributor for CatholicMom.com and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's Daily Eucharistic Reflection. She has written for other publications, including Emmanuel Publishing and Shalom Magazine. She and her husband, Rick Hernandez, coordinate the RCIA program at their home parish. She loves choral music and is a member of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. She lives in Trinity, FL with her husband and two of her young adult sons.