Be careful what you love

Over the weekend I attended a ‘seed bomb’ workshop at a local arts festival. I had no idea, beforehand, what it was about. It consisted of a talk and demonstration with hands-on practice of taking tiny seeds (yarrow, dandelion, etc.) and kneading them with some soil and moss into  small balls.  These may be simply ‘thrown’ into a garden space. Instead of bombs that kill these were little bombs that give life to wonderful wild flowers.

In the Mass we have a special opportunity – every single time – to be open to change and new growth as the seeds planted by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ are kneaded into our souls. We have the opportunity to become what we eat.

If our diet is other than the Word of God we starve.  The availability of online ‘click bait’ that may offer short-term dopamine release or adrenaline boost leaves us dry, bitter and unsatisfied.  This is why it is good to take breaks from social media, for example, even when we are careful to filter out particularly damaging material. The constant drip feed of hateful comments, videos and posts about any and all sorts of minority groups along with the sensational can destroys our minds, hearts and, eventually, our souls. 

We must consciously, mindfully, heartfully embrace the food of life.  Daily patterns of reading, meditation and prayer centred on the Word of God along with frequent reception of Holy Communion is a necessary protection and sustenance against the enemy that wanders through the world and seeks to ruin souls.