Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has claimed us. We belong to God, and no one can change that. However, discipleship is not an easy journey. The teachings of Jesus indicate that following him can be challenging.
Christ calls us into a life of discipleship. From his first appearance to Mary in the garden to his last before his ascension, when the risen Christ appears, he commissions his disciples either to go and tell or to follow. The vocation and mission of the church is to respond to this commission.
Gardens and hope share a beautiful similarity—they're both acts of belief in the future. When you plant a seed, you're trusting it will grow into something vibrant and full of life. Even though you can't see the results immediately, you nurture the soil, water the plants, and tend to them with patience, knowing that growth takes time.