The first part of this reflection focuses on those sowing or the sower. For the sower who puts his time, effort and resources into the seed sown in the soil, Jesus calls us to not be discouraged. Instead we should preserve and hope in the fruitfulness of his labour.

The gospel reading reminds me of Okonkwo’s story in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo was literally the son of a pauper who worked his way up in Umuofia. He had nothing of his own and so borrowed several yam seedlings from a wealthy man in the village, intending to yield enough for himself and equally remit a part of his yield to the rich man. By divine wisdom, Okonkwo divided the seedlings into three parts. He sowed the first during the first planting season, made necessary sacrifices and hoped for the best. Yet Okonkwo watched his plants wither away each passing day for lack of rain.

Again, when he saw signs of rain, he hopefully sowed the second part, but when the rains came, they washed away everything his hope of prosperity had been built on. Determined, Okonkwo put the last of his seedlings in the ground, hoping for a little miracle. But then, luck finally smiled on him. The yield was great. He paid back what was due for him to pay, and he prospered greatly.

Okonkwo’s attitude in this story resonates with what Jesus calls us to do today. Here at JMC, we are called to do the same. Frustration and complaining are a huge chunk of the nature of JMC students’ attitude toward life, and it’s something that must change. Jesus lets us know that our efforts here at the Heights may seem futile. You may study for a CE that you end up failing; you may work hard and see only little improvements. I remember once when my classmate and I complained bitterly to a certain teacher about our low scores on a test. My classmate complained, saying, “Sir, I’ve been working hard, but I’m not seeing any improvement,” and you know what my teacher said? He said, “Now, imagine if you didn’t work hard at all?”

Jesus gives us a word of encouragement: to teachers who feel as though their efforts are wasted when students are not doing so well in their classes or are not paying attention, look to the students who get the concept, who pay attention and who are excelling and be encouraged.

To prefects who feel they try too hard, but JMC students just refuse you for no reason, look to the students who do listen and have hope. Trust me, I’ve been there, so I know how it feels.

To the priests who spend hours working on a homily and then find students asleep when you deliver your homily, look to those of us who are impacted by your preaching and have hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orobosa Anthonia UWAIFO

Class of 2024