I marvelled and thought what it (the treasure) might be, and I was answered in mine understanding: It is a food which is delectable and pleasant to the Lord.... I beheld, thinking what manner of labour it might be that the Servant (now representing Christ) should do. And then I understood that he should do the greatest labour and hardest travail: that is, he should be a gardener....And he should never turn again till he had prepared this food all ready as he knew that it pleased the Lord. And then he should take this food, with the drink in the food, and bear it full worshipfully afore the Lord."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 51)
In the parable that God showed Julian, the Servant in the story now shifts from representing Adam to representing Christ, and we see the work of Christ to help Adam who had fallen into trouble. In this part of the story, the work of Christ is likened to the work of a gardener, such as one who works in a vineyard, who brings forth plants from the seeds deep in the soil, waters and cares for the plants till they bring forth fruit, and then brings the fruit and its juice to the Lord. So one way to look at this treasure in the earth is to see it as a seed of a plant, waiting in the earth to sprout and grow and bring forth fruit. We can see Christ as the One tending the seeds so they sprout, caring for and watering the plants so they grow, and bringing the fruit of the vine to the Father. We are His little plants that He nurtures and cares for, doing everything to help us thrive, bringing out the fruit of the Spirit from within us. Christ's finished work has brought the seed of humanity to sprout from the earth, from death into life, to flourish forever and bear spiritual fruit. This work is not done by us but is already done for us and through us. This work is already finished and complete and we are presentable to God in heaven. The seed of humanity was always meant to grow and prosper through God indwelling humankind. Christ accomplished this plan and there is nowhere left to go but up and up with God, to thrive and flourish and be full of God's life forever!
"Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it...In days to come [it] will take root, [it] will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit."
Isaiah 27:2-3, 6 (NIV)
A Prayer: I am so glad to find You have been in me all along. I love living life with You inside my skin!