Jesus the Gardener

Rembrandt van Rijn, Christ and St Mary Magdalen at the Tomb.

It is not often that we see Jesus represented as a gardener. Actually, one of the only times we see it painted is in certain images of the Resurrection. Many of these images can even strike a weird chord in our hearts, as some artists portray Jesus as a literal gardener - hat over his head and a shovel in his hand.

I think I have always taken Mary Magdalen mistaking Jesus for the gardener more that she was so overcome with grief and that the only thing that made sense to her was Jesus was someone working the grounds. But lately my daily reflection has been this unique image of Jesus.

Gardens have always had such deep meaning in the story of salvation: Eden, Gethsemane, the Resurrection. While there can be deep theology unpacked here, in short, I think the constant referral back to the garden is Christ beckoning us to the reality that He desires such intimacy with us as from the beginning when He created Adam and Eve. And, not only that, He desires a deeper and more glorious relationship due to His redeeming of mankind.

I love this image by Jan Brueghel the Younger. While many images of Noli Me Tangere don't show much of the actual garden, I actually love how greens are sprawled all over this image. You see tulips growing, greens branching out with life, and even a wheelbarrow full of harvested plants.

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Noli Me Tangere.

That seems to be a reality I reflect on in my life recently. For some reason, the ordinary seems so simple and mundane. Folding laundry, making sure kids are fed and clothed, and just forming the ones in my care seems so ordinary. And yet, how very holy this ground is. Whether you are in the same season or a different season, I think each of us can relate to this feeling.

The daily life can rub up against our hopes and dreams for what holiness looks like. It can seem easier (and feel holier) to be Catholic when our family agrees with us, or maybe to live it in the workplace if we didn't feel surrounded by hostility. No matter what your battle, it can be easy to get stuck.

But I find the image of Jesus the gardener to be a balm to my heart in the hard moments. Jesus is pruning our hearts. When we see weeds and dry land, he is the one watering our souls and pulling out the things we cling to for comfort instead of Him. When we don't see fruit, he is seeing the seeds and caring for the plants. He then harvests them when they come to fruition.

As you ponder the image above, I want you to ask yourself and Jesus.

• What are areas where I feel life is boring, desolate, or unfruitful?

• Where do I see Jesus at work, or where can I pause to be more intentional to find His hand at work?

Mary Magdalen, help us to find Jesus in such moments of our lives.

Written by Katie Weiss

Images: Rembrandt van Rijn, Christ and St Mary Magdalen at the Tomb.

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Noli Me Tangere.