preparing the soil, preparing the soul

"When a farmer prepares to till the soil he must put on clothing and use tools that are suitable. So Christ, our heavenly king, came to till the soil of (hu)mankind devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his plowshare, cultivated the barren soul of (hu)man(s). He removed the thorns and thistles which are evil spirits and pulled up the weeds of sin. Into the fire he cast the straw of wickedness. And when he had plowed the soul with the wood of the cross, he planted in it a most lovely garden of the Spirit, that could produce for its Lord and God the sweetest and most peasant fruit of every kind."

--Saint Macarius, bishop

(The Liturgy of the Hours, IV. p. 596).