Meditation: After the symbolic baptism of the land, God wished to make the land like the Church. When He created plants on it, Moses draws our attention to 2 kinds of plants that were made: plants yielding seed (grain) and fruit trees. These are the plants used to make the sacraments. Grain and grapes are used to make bread and wine for the eucharist and olives are used to make oil for confirmation, ordination, and extreme unction.
Psalm verse: Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted. (Ps 104:14-16)
Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, for the gift of plants and the sacraments.
Scripture: And God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (Gen 1:11-13)
