Today is Feb. 16, the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time.
We read at Mass this Sunday, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream” (Jer 17:7-8).
“I am (obviously) much in love with plants and above all trees, and always have been,” J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote in a letter to his publisher. Tolkien’s deep love for trees was not just poetic admiration; it was spiritual. He saw in trees a reflection of something enduring and true, something that spoke of God.
In Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” forests are more than scenery — they are landscapes of resilience. The towering Mallorn trees of Lothlórien, glowing with golden leaves and untouched by time, speak of a land preserved by grace. The Ents, ancient and slow-moving shepherds of the forest, stand as guardians against destruction. They are patience personified. Even the Shire, with its humble but thriving trees, reflects the quiet strength that comes from being rooted in something beyond oneself.
Jeremiah’s words present us with a stark contrast: a barren bush in the desert, dry and lifeless, versus a tree planted beside flowing waters, lush and full of fruit. The difference lies not just in location, but in sustenance. The tree thrives because it stretches its roots deep into the source of life, while the bush, isolated and self-reliant, withers in a wasteland. This imagery is not just poetic; it is advice for living the spiritual life well.
Sending our roots deep into God’s grace
Like Tolkien’s trees, we are meant to grow, remain steadfast, and reach toward the light. But we can only do so if we are connected to the source of life — God. When we put our trust in human strength alone and rely solely on our own power, cleverness, or ambition, we become like the desert shrub: weak, brittle, and unable to endure the trials of life. We may survive for a time, but we will not flourish. The heat of suffering and the drought of spiritual dryness will leave us parched.
But when we trust in the Lord, when we send our roots deep into his grace, we become like the tree by the stream. The trials of life will still come — the heat will still beat down, the droughts will still arrive — but we will not be shaken. Our leaves will remain green, our souls will not shrivel, and we will continue to bear fruit even in the hardest seasons.
Let us pray,
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
