Today’s “unique” Advent calendar item is a seed. When I first saw it, I thought, “What can you really do with just one little seed?” It’s so tiny you might be tempted to dismiss it. But then I remembered the potential packed into that small seed. Given the right conditions—good soil, sunlight, and water—it can grow into something extraordinary: a tree, a flower, even food to feed others. It got me thinking: What small act of faith or prayer could I plant today that might grow into something greater?
 
Advent is the perfect season to think about seeds. It’s a time of waiting and preparation, and just like planting a seed, we don’t always see immediate results. But in faith, we trust that what we plant today will bear fruit in God’s time.
 Our first reading from Isaiah speaks about God’s promise to provide rain for the seed we sow, and wheat that will grow rich and abundant. It’s a beautiful image of the life God wants to nurture in us. But here’s the catch—God provides the rain, but we have to plant the seed. Advent is a time to do just that.
 
Jesus reinforces this in the Gospel, as He sends out His disciples to proclaim, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What is the Kingdom of heaven? It’s like a seed—small and seemingly insignificant at first, but destined to grow into something glorious when nurtured by acts of faith and love.
 Today we also celebrate the memorial of St. Ambrose, a man who understood the power of planting seeds of faith. One of the most remarkable seeds he planted was in the heart of a young man named Augustine. At the time, Augustine wasn’t interested in God. He was brilliant but restless, searching for meaning in all the wrong places.
 
But Ambrose didn’t give up on him. Through his wisdom, preaching, and personal example, Ambrose sowed seeds of faith in Augustine’s heart. Those seeds didn’t grow overnight—it took time, prayer, and God’s grace—but eventually, they blossomed. Augustine became not just a convert but one of the greatest saints and theologians in the Church’s history.
 
Now, think about this: if Ambrose hadn’t planted that seed, we might never have had a St. Augustine. And if we didn’t have St. Augustine, we might not have a church here in Augusta, named in his honor! All because one person chose to plant a seed.
 So, what seed can you plant today?
 

• A seed of prayer. Maybe it’s just a short prayer, like, “Lord, guide me today.” Or perhaps it’s pausing for a few moments of gratitude. Small prayers can grow into a stronger relationship with God.
• A seed of kindness. A smile, a kind word, or a small act of generosity can brighten someone’s day and open their heart to God’s love.
• A seed of faith. Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s as simple as inviting someone to Mass or encouraging a friend who’s struggling.

 Planting seeds of faith can feel small, even insignificant, but remember what Jesus said: the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. That means God is counting on you and me to plant those seeds. And we can trust that He will provide the rain, the sunlight, and the growth.
 
So, as you go about your day, hold that little seed in your mind. What small act of prayer or love can you plant today? You may not see the results right away, but in God’s time, those seeds will grow into something extraordinary—just like the seed Ambrose planted in Augustine’s heart.
 
Blessed are all who wait for the Lord. Let’s plant those seeds of faith and trust in His abundant harvest. Amen.