A mosaic in Ravenna, Italy
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind (Gen. 1:11).
Divine truths can be most clearly found in the great creation of God—in nature, because the nature around us has hidden marks of the hand of God. For Christians, everything connected with the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ is precious, including the flora and fauna of the Holy Land. Biblical plants, which are witnesses of ancient historical events, help us feel our spiritual link with the Christian past and understand the Bible better.
The Book of Books tells us that trees and herbs were brought forth by the earth at God’s command on the third day of creation (Gen. 1:11). The Garden of Eden was created especially for people. Taking an interest in the natural reality of the Bible, we learn that the Holy Land is a unique region in terms of its diverse flora—it has over 3,000 plant species, many of which are often mentioned in the Bible. In the New Testament, the semantic load on the plants mentioned in it is very significant. In addition to the words naming specific plants (wheat, palm, cumin, etc.), in the Gospel we find words denoting generic botanical concepts: grass, tree, root, and fruit.
In the first millennium A.D., Judea was a country in which a significant amount of territory was arid desert and rocky mountains. However, there was lush vegetation near the water sources: palm trees, olive groves, fig trees, pistachio trees, hawthorn, carob trees, cypress, laurel, myrtle, and pomegranate. There were fields of wheat and oats, and towns and villages flourished. There were especially good conditions for agriculture in the Jordan River Valley, where barley, wheat, millet, flax, and oats were grown as early as the third millennium B.C. The country was also famous for growing grapes, fig trees, and olives. Let us consider the plants mentioned in the New Testament.
The ALOE is an evergreen perennial tropical plant, leaves of which have hard teeth at the edges; quite often it grows up to four meters (thirteen feet) in height. It has medicinal properties that were known over 3,000 years ago. Aloe juice has antiseptic properties, so it was used in the mummification of the bodies of the dead. In Russian, this plant is also called “century-plant.” As the Apostle John the Evangelist testifies, for the anointing of Jesus Christ’s body the Righteous Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight (Jn. 19:39). It should be noted that this ancient measure is close to thirty grams, so St. Nicodemus brought three kilograms of the mixture.
The body of Jesus was wrapped in burial shrouds accompanied by aromatic spices, as was customary among the Jews. The symbolic meaning of using aloe at the burial of Jesus is associated with a special reverence for the deceased. This act highlights the sanctity and importance of the event.
ANISESEED is an annual herbaceous spicy plant of the eastern Mediterranean. It has been used since ancient times as a seasoning for food and for medicinal purposes. Israel sacrificed the firstfruits of fruits and vegetables to the Temple as a sign of gratitude to God for a new harvest (Deut. 26: 2). In the Gospel, Jesus Christ exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who paid tithes on anise, mint, and cumin, of which nothing was said in the Law, but at the same time ignored the most important commandments of the Law: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith (Mt. 23:23).
GRAPES played a big role in the life of the Israeli people. In ancient times, viticulture and winemaking were widespread throughout Palestine. Grape cultivation has been practiced since the time of Noah (Gen. 9:20). In the Holy Land, vines were once ten meters (over thirty feet) high, and their bunches weighed five to six kilograms. The image of a vine and bunches of grapes was a symbol of Judea and was minted on Hebrew coins.
The words “wine” and “vineyard” can often be found in the New Testament, which carry a deep symbolic meaning. In the Biblical texts, bread and wine appear side by side as the basis of life. At the Last Supper, in the form of bread and grape wine, the Lord has taught us the highest sacrament of receiving His Body and Blood, the sacrament of the Eucharist (Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:23–25; Lk. 22:19-20). During the same farewell conversation, the Savior said of Himself: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come (Lk. 22:18).
Wine is mentioned in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:34) and in the Parable of New Wine and Old Wineskins (Lk. 5:37). By “old wineskins”, Christ figuratively characterized the Jewish religion, which could not contain the new teaching of Jesus Christ. An angel foretold about St. John the Baptist even before his birth that he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink (Lk. 1:15)—that is, he was destined to perform his great ministry as a Nazarene. The Savior rebuked the Jews who spoke ill of the great faster John and at the same time criticized Him as a man who is come eating and drinking (Lk. 7:34). The Gospel of John recounts the miracle of the Lord turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee (Jn. 2:3–10).
Describing the spiritual unity of believers with Him, the Lord called Himself a vine: I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman (Jn. 15:1). The key thought here is that spiritual life is possible only in a living bond with Christ. Without Him, we cannot bear spiritual fruit: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). God’s vineyard is the Church of Christ.
Mosaic detail of the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna (Italy). Let us recall the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt. 20:1-16). Here the vineyard is a symbol of the Heavenly Kingdom. The main idea of the parable is as follows: Just as each worker of the vineyard received a denarius regardless of the number of hours worked, so in the Heavenly Kingdom the blessedness of eternal life will be given to all who are rewarded by grace and not by justice. It is never too late to repent.
The vineyard also appears in the Parable of the Two Sons (Mt. 21:28-30). One son, first refusing to work, later repented and went to the vineyard; the other, on the contrary, having promised to go, eventually did not go. According to the Savior’s own explanation, this parable means that publicans and sinners who have not vowed to do the will of God will repent and go to the Kingdom of God before those who, having vowed to keep the commandments, actually transgressed them. In the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Mt. 21:33–40; Mk. 12:1–9; Lk. 20:9–1) Jesus Christ clearly showed the leaders of the Jewish people their moral decay and their murderous attitude towards God and people. God requires fruits from His vineyard, otherwise the vineyard will be entrusted to other winegrowers.
THE MUSTARD SEED, MUSTARD, is an annual shrubby pod plant; in Palestine it grows over three meters (about ten feet) in height. It grows wild in Egypt. Because it is small, the mustard seed even became proverbial among the Jews, so when they wanted to describe any small thing, they said that it was like a mustard seed. The Lord said in the Parable of the Mustard Seed: The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree… (Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:31; Lk. 13: 19). The mustard seed symbolizes the Church, which was strengthened in faith, feeling its ultimate glory behind its humble beginning. The mustard seed also serves as an image of great faith: When the disciples asked their Divine Teacher to increase their faith, He replied: If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you (Lk. 17:6).
St. John Chrysostom compared the mustard seed to Christ Himself. Being “sown” into the world, He gave salvation to people through His death and Resurrection. The image of the mustard seed in the New Testament is used to convey the idea of a small beginning leading to a great result.
HYSSOP is a fragrant plant with blue and white flowers; it often grows on the walls of old buildings and piles of rubbish. It was used by the Jews as a sprinkler (Ps. 50:9): its stems, tied in a bundle, were convenient for sprinkling objects with liquid. The Gospel of John speaks of the crucified Jesus Christ: They filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth (Jn. 19:29). Hyssop as a medicinal plant is still famous today.
INCENSE. THE INCENSE TREE grows in the Southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen) and in Somalia. It is a small tree three to five meters (ten to sixteen feet) tall with nondescript white or light yellow flowers. Frankincense (resin) is harvested from its wood by making incisions into the bark of a tree trunk. After flowing out, it hardens on the bark or at the base of the trunk after a while. Frankincense is used for fumigation as an antiseptic. It is the oldest expensive incense and an integral part of worship of many religious cults. The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Infant Jesus.
FLAX was brought to Palestine by the Hebrews after their stay in Egypt. Since ancient times, Judea has been famous for the cultivation of flax and manufacturing linen fabrics. Jewish priests wore only linen vestments as a symbol of purity and light (Lev. 16:4). Linen cloth was used to make curtains in the Temple. According to some sources, Christ’s body was wrapped in a clean linen shroud after His Crucifixion. Clean and white linen clothes served as a symbol of innocence and moral purity: And the seven angels came out of the Temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen (Rev. 15: 6). The Evangelist Matthew quotes the words of the Prophet Isaiah about the future Messiah: Behold My Servant, Whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in Whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory (Mt. 12:18–20).
LILIES have always grown in abundance in Judea in open areas: meadows, wastelands, and roadsides. The lily is distinguished not only by its beauty, but also by its pleasant aroma. It was an ornamental element in the Temple of Solomon. In ancient times, musical instruments were made in the shape of a lily. Sometimes the lily is called the “queen of flowers”: it is a symbol of perfect but fleeting beauty. In the Bible, the bride’s beauty is compared to the beauty of this flower. In the New Testament, this flower is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew (Mt. 6:28–29) and Luke (Lk. 12:27). Convincing people that God continually cares for them, the Lord cites lilies as an example: Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God cares for the humblest of His creatures, then all the more people must trust in His Providence.
MINT. The Bible also mentions plants such as mint, rue, and cumin. The Law of Moses ordered the Jews to pay tithes for the Temple based on their agricultural yield. The Law says nothing about mint, but, wishing to prove that they strictly observed the minutiae of the Law, the Pharisees meticulously paid a tax on such tiny herbs as mint and rue, while neglecting their most important duties (Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42).
SPIKENARD is an aromatic plant of the East. The Jews received spikenard ointment (myrrh) in alabaster vessels from Asia Minor. It was very expensive (Jn. 12:3–5). Anointing with myrrh and other fragrant ointments was common in the East and served as a sign of hospitality and respect for guests. A woman poured pure and precious spikenard onto the Savior’s feet (Mk. 14:3; Jn. 12:3). Jesus Christ pointed out another meaning of this anointing: preparing Him for burial, since the bodies of the dead were anointed with precious perfumes. Christ’s words contained a prophecy about His imminent death.
Byzantine mosaic
The OLIVE is a beautiful evergreen subtropical and abundantly fruiting tree. Its plum-like fruit change color from green to black as they mature. An olive tree was the first to grow after the Flood, and therefore its branch became a message of peace between God and man. Olives have always been highly valued, as oil squeezed from them has been an object of trade and luxury. Olive oil has been used as a culinary ingredient and for medicinal preparations; even without preservatives it has a long life. Oil was squeezed from olives for the Tabernacle, and for anointing high priests and kings in accordance with the laws of Moses. The olive tree, like the palm and fig trees, was a symbol of God’s blessing, strength, peace and abundance. Branches of this tree were used to build huts on the feast of Tabernacles. Two cherubs were carved out of olive wood for the Temple of Jerusalem.
The olive is the longest–lived cultivated fruit-bearing tree. In Israel, some surviving olive trees are witnesses of the Gospel events: in the Garden of Gethsemane, you can still see some old olive trees that are over 2000 years old. Christian monks make prayer ropes from dried seeds of these ancient fruits. The Mount of Olives got its name from the olive trees that used to grow abundantly on and around its slopes. The Lord often spent time on the Mount of Olives: And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives (Mt. 21:1). When they had sung an hymn, they [the Lord and the disciples] went out into the Mount of Olives (Mt. 26:30). The Apostle Paul uses images of a cultivated (good) olive tree and a wild olive branch when discussing Gentile Christians who exalted themselves over Jewish Christians (Rom. 11:16–24). In modern life, the olive branch is an emblem of peace.
THE PALM TREE is a wondrous and blessed evergreen tree. There are about 1000 species of palm trees. The trunk of a palm tree grows vertically upwards without branching and reaches up to thirty meters (100 feet) in height and up to thirty meters deep. Trees begin to bear fruit at the age of ten to fifteen, and their operational lifespan is up to 200 years. Groves of date palms grow along rivers, streams and in oases from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf. Since ancient times, palm trees have been cultivated not only for their sweet fruits; trunks of palm trees were used as a building material, and the fiber that covered the trunk was used to make coarse cloth, baskets, ropes, hats, sacks and household bags. After incisions were made on date palms, juice suitable for making palm wine flowed out in abundance. In the Middle East, the palm tree has always been considered a tree of prosperity: each palm tree produces 270 liters of nutritious milk and 250 kilograms of very nutritious fruits per year. Images of palm trees decorated the walls of the Temple built in Jerusalem by King Solomon; they are present on many ancient coins as an emblem of Judea. The word “pilgrim” originated from “palm tree”: it was the name of worshippers who visited the Holy Land and brought home palm leaves from there. During solemn processions the Jews had a custom to throw branches of palm trees (or rather, their large feathery leaves) under the victor’s feet on his return home. Crowds of people, welcoming Jesus as the King of the Jews, strewed His path with palm branches during His triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna (Jn. 12:12–13). This episode gave rise to the tradition of Palm Sunday celebrations.
Palm tree branches also served as a sign of victory: And, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands (Rev. 7:9). Here the Apostle John writes about the victory of the righteous over the devil.
TARES are weeds. The Church Fathers describe tares as a plant, strikingly similar to wheat, but poisonous; bread baked from wheat not cleansed from the seeds of tares caused severe poisoning. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares says that the enemy sowed tares among the wheat and that the servants suggested weeding the field, but the master replied: Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest (Mt. 13:29–30). And when harvest time came, he commanded the reapers to gather the tares into bundles and burn them, and gather the good grains into the granaries. This sower is Jesus Christ, and His enemy is the devil. Both sow their seeds in the world, and both the Sons of the Kingdom and the sons of the devil grow in the same field, spared by the longsuffering and wisdom of the Provider of the world until the Last Judgment. Then the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked, who will be cast into the eternal fire like tares, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the “granaries” of the Heavenly Father.
WORMWOOD is a plant, several species of which grow in Palestine and vary in their bitterness. The word “wormwood” is mentioned in the New Testament only once. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter (Rev. 8:10–11).
WHEAT in Biblical times was the most important cultivated plant in the Middle East, which was domesticated 9,000 years ago. In the Holy Scriptures, the Promised Land is constantly referred to as the land of wheat, the place of grain, or paradise. Wheat bread is one of the main riches of any country. In the Scriptures, bread symbolizes not only physical food, but also spiritual food (for example, in the sacrament of the Eucharist). Christ says of Himself, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger (Jn. 6:35). In the Lord’s Prayer, Christ teaches us to ask God for our daily bread—that is, only that which we cannot exist without.
Wheat would be gathered into granaries, and tares would be gathered in bundles and burned. Predicting the coming of Christ, St. John the Baptist compared Him to a harvester: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Mt. 3:12; Lk. 3:17). By saying this, the Forerunner of the Lord showed that the coming Messiah couldn’t look indifferently at the vices of people and that to Him belonged the future judgment of sinners and retribution. Wheat is mentioned in the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk. 16:7) and in the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (see TARES).
Mosaic of Ravenna, Italy And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat (Lk. 22:31). That is, the enemy of mankind asked God immediately to separate the righteous from the sinners—to “weed out” the sinners in order to have power over them. But the merciful Lord delays His judgment, waiting for us to repent until the last minute of our lives. With the Parable of the Grain of Wheat, the Lord tells the disciples that His imminent death is a necessary prerequisite for salvation; He embodied the law of fruitfulness, which He proclaimed before the world: Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (Jn. 12:24).
The CAROB TREE is a tropical evergreen tree and shrub belonging to the legume family with a height of six to twelve meters (twenty to forty feet). Its fruits have juicy, sweet flesh. Its seeds are often identical in mass and therefore were used as a measure of weight from the time of Ancient Rome. From ancient times, its pods served as food for the poor, which is why it is sometimes called “St. John’s bread” (according to tradition, St. John the Baptist ate carob pods in the desert). In ancient times, wine was made from carobs, and the squeezed pulp was given to livestock. It was with carob pods that the prodigal son mentioned in the Bible longed to fill his stomach (Lk. 15:16).
RUE has a strong smell; it was used by the ancients as a medicine. It also grows in our gardens in Russia. In the New Testament, it is mentioned along with mint and other herbs, on which the Jews hypocritically gave tithes for the Temple. Christ rebuked them: Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God (Lk. 11:42).
MYRRH is a plant from which myrrh resin is harvested. On the territory of the Ancient East, from India to Egypt, fragrant resins of various bushes were known, among which the myrrh bush is highly prized. The fragrant resin of this bush, also called myrrh, was equivalent to gold, diamond, and pearls. Myrrh was used as incense in rich people’s bedrooms. It was used in medicine (for anesthesia), cosmetics, and religious worship; it was also used for burial. Wine mixed with myrrh was offered to prisoners before they were crucified on the cross. The myrrh bush continuously releases aromatic compounds. If it grows in total tranquility, it emits far less aromatic substances; but if the owner of a myrrh plantation wants to get the maximum, he wounds the bush with a whip with sharp nails. Then a stream of fragrant liquid will flow from each wound. Christians can learn a lesson from this fact: A carefree life with an abundance of material goods and worldly joys always remains unfragrant, while wounds, sufferings and temptations reveal rich streams of spiritual perfumes and value.
Among the gifts to the newborn Christ brought by the Three Wise Men from the Orient were gold, frankincense and myrrh. A woman poured myrrh from an alabaster jar onto the Savior, thereby proving her love for Him (Mt. 26:7–12; Lk. 7:37–38, 46; Jn. 12:3). The holy Myrrh-Bearing Women came to the Tomb of Christ to anoint the shroud He was wrapped in with fragrant myrrh.
The Holy Myrrh used in the sacrament of Chrismation in the Russian Orthodox Church is made only in Moscow (the Small Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery) on the first three days of Holy Week; it is consecrated by the Patriarch in the Patriarchal Cathedral during the Rite of the Preparation of the Holy Chrism at the Liturgy on Holy and Great Thursday. Myrrh is sent from Moscow to all Russian Orthodox churches.
THE FIG TREE is one of the most ancient cultivated plants and the most valued fruit trees in the East. The fig tree is not picky about soil—it can grow in nutrient-poor soil, on screes, rocks, and stone walls. This deciduous tree reaches a height of twelve meters (forty feet) and has a thick trunk with light gray and smooth bark. Fig tree branches grow both in height and width, and its leaves are wide, and therefore it provides dense shade, which is highly appreciated in the East. The fragrant yellowish-white flowers are wonderful pollen sources; Fig tree fruit (figs) are edible and medicinal. The fig tree bears fruit twice or thrice a year, with every tree yielding up to one ton. The flowering of the fig tree was one of the early signs of the coming of summer: Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh (Mt. 24:32; Mk. 13:28–31; Lk. 21:29). The fig tree is the only tree mentioned as growing in the Garden of Eden: Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with fig leaves (Gen. 3:7). In the East, the fig tree has become a symbol of tranquility, prosperity, peace and abundance.
In the New Testament, we read the following episode from the Savior’s earthly life. One day, Jesus was hungry and, when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away (Mt. 21:19; Mk. 11:13–14). The disciples were surprised by the power of Jesus’ curse, which gave Him a reason to point out to the disciples again the power of faith, which can move mountains. This treatment of the barren fig tree was a symbolic representation of the Judgment of God that was to befall the fruitless Jewish people. The fig tree is also mentioned in the episode when the Lord told Nathanael that He had seen him under the fig tree before He first met him (Jn. 1:48-50). Astonished by Jesus’ clairvoyance, the future apostle said to Him: Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49). The fig tree is also mentioned in the Savior’s words when He answers the disciples’ request for increasing faith in them (Lk. 17:6). Zacchaeus, a tax collector, had such a strong desire to see Jesus walking with the crowd that he climbed a fig tree standing by the road (Lk. 19:4).
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Lk. 13:6-9) describes the possibility of turning a “bad” tree into a “good” one—that is, the possibility for a repentant sinner of turning into a righteous man. The fig tree is a vivid image of the end of the world: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind (Rev. 6:13).
THORN, BLACKTHORN, THORN BUSH. Under the collective name “thorn” are meant about 200 different thorny plants growing in the Holy Land. It is a small thorny shrub that grows to form dense and impenetrable thickets. According to the commentators of the Holy Scriptures, the burning thorn bush from which God spoke to Moses was one of the species of mimosa or acacia (Exod. 3:2): And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him [Moses] in the wilderness of Mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush (Acts 7: 30). It is possible that the Biblical thorn was the white dittany (gas plant), which is called the “Burning Bush”. This plant emits volatile, essential oils that can ignite in a quick flash of flame, while the stems remain absolutely unharmed. The Burning Bush prefigured the Virgin Mary. Today the monks of the Sinai Monastery of St. Catherine show the Burning Bush to pilgrims.
In the Parable of the Sower, the Lord says: And some [seeds] fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them (Mt. 13:7). Christ Himself explained this parable as follows: the seed is the Word of God (Lk. 8:11), but those who are preoccupied with the care of this world (Mt. 13:22) cannot keep this Word in themselves—the seed sown among thorns does not ripen (Lk. 8:14).
Another thorn is found in the description of the Passion of the Savior inflicted by the Roman soldiers: And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head (Mt. 27:29; Mk. 15:18; Jn. 19:2). According to biologists, the Crown of Thorns on the head of Jesus Christ was woven from branches of Christ’s thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi) that used to grow in abundance in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Needles of this thorny tree cause acute pain when touched. Today the relic, revered as the “Crown of Thorns of the Lord”, is kept at Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. Thorns have become synonymous with difficulties and harsh trials (take the Latin proverb: “Through thorns to the stars”).
The REED. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thin and flexible stem. It grew abundantly in the Jordan Desert, where St. John the Baptist was staying: Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (Mt. 11:7; Lk. 7:24). With these words, the Lord sought to correct the public’s misconceptions about the great prophet and to testify to the unyielding firmness and unfailing constancy of St. John the Baptist. According to some researchers, a reed shaken with the wind is a Palestinian reed.
Describing the mockery of the Lord, the evangelist writes: And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand (Mt. 27:29; Mk. 15:19). While mocking Him, instead of a royal scepter, they struck Him on the head with a reed, and the sponge soaked in vinegar and given to Him to drink was placed on the reed (Mt. 29:48; Mk. 15:36). Apparently, the reed also served to measure the length of objects: And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein (Rev. 11:1). Letters were written with a reed, as evidenced by the following words of the Apostle John: I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and [reed] pen write unto thee. But I trust I shall shortly see thee (3 Jn. 1:13, 14).
BARLEY is one of the oldest cereals cultivated by humans. Like wheat, it was domesticated in the Middle East at least 10,000 years ago. The Bible mentions barley among the plants used for food, which was grown in abundance in Palestine. Barley fields extended in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Ruth 1: 22). Barley grain was valued less than wheat (Rev. 6:6); however, when wheat supplies ran out, barley saved people from starvation. Poor people used barley flour to bake bread. Responding to the Lord’s suggestion to feed a huge number of people, the Apostle Andrew said to Jesus: There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes (Jn. 6:9).
As in ancient times, the world of plants feeds, clothes, heals and protects people, purifies the air and adorns the earth; and therefore we must take care of it as a miracle given to us by the Savior. Plants teach us to serve our neighbors, just as they faithfully serve humanity. The world of plants is a wonderful language of God, in which God testifies about Himself. Every flower and every tree is a sermon about God’s love for man.
