Today’s gospel recounts the parable of the seed falling on various types of soil. The story describes various soils and their ability to bear seeds. I have often thought of Jesuit education and working with students as dealing with soil of questionable merit and turning it into something that becomes receptive to the Word of God. Throughout history, Jesuits have never been content with the motto “what you see is what you get.” Instead, they saw past what others presumed and envisioned potential and witnessed progress after a bit of academic and spiritual discipline. The success of Jesuit education has been rooted in the project of making the “soil” receptive to the Word of God so that the seed may bear fruit. Keeping the focus on God and helping men and women find the means to do this successfully has been the project of countless Jesuits who have tilled the fields of the Lord’s vineyard. No less credit goes to those who help supply the Society of Jesus with the farm implements needed.