The Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett

First published: 1962

Edition(s) used:The Lilies of the Field. New York: Warner Books, 1995

Genre(s): Novella

Subgenre(s): Legends

Core issue(s): African Americans; conscience; faith; humility; racism; trust in God

Principal characters

• Homer Smith, a twenty-four-year-old African American exploring the West in his station wagon after his discharge from the army
• Mother Maria Marthe, a nun from East Germany, the mother superior of a small community of nuns
• Sister Albertine,
• Sister Elisabeth,
• Sister Gertrud, and
• Sister Agnes, nuns under the supervision of Mother Maria Marthe
• Gus Ritter, the deceased owner of the farm bequeathed to Mother Maria Marthe’s religious order
• Orville Livingston, owner of the Livingston Construction Company, the executor of Gus Ritter’s estate

Overview

The Lilies of the Field is an account of the legendary accomplishments of Homer Smith, instrumental in helping five refugee nuns realize their dream. Legends often get embellished and assume a life of their own, so the narrator sets the record straight by re-creating the past—how Smith, a twenty-four-year-old African American from South Carolina, just released from the army, meets the nuns. An impetuous, kind but headstrong man, he equips a station wagon for travel on the West Coast. A skilled man, he travels around, living frugally and working only when he feels the need. One day in May as he is driving by a valley in the Rocky Mountains, his curiosity is aroused by the sight of four women, attired in bulky clothes and head scarves, putting up a fence. Wondering if they need his help, he stops to offer his services.

Smith finds that the women speak German and have a limited knowledge of English. He is greeted by an elderly woman, who introduces herself and her fellow nuns. Mother Maria Marthe thanks God for sending her a big, strong man to help. Smith refutes this by saying he was not sent by anyone but stopped of his own will, yet the mother superior remains firm in her conviction that he is the answer to her prayers.

Smith assumes he will be helping the nuns put up the fence, but the mother superior assigns him the task of repairing the roof. To his surprise, Smith finds that the nuns already possess the shingles and needed tools, suggesting that they had intended to fix the roof themselves. At midday, he is asked to join the nuns for their frugal meal of bread, cheese, and milk, and after the day ends, it is assumed that he will be staying for supper. Smith plans on leaving after repairing the roof, but the evening he spends with the nuns helping them learn English softens his heart toward them.

The next morning Mother Maria Marthe takes Smith to the foundation of the old burnt house, shows him a good drawing of a church, not very different from the Baptist churches Smith has attended and declares, “Ve build a shapel.” When Smith realizes that “ve” includes him, he makes it clear once again that he has neither the expertise nor any desire to build a chapel. However, he offers to clear the foundation before leaving.

In the evening, as Smith is called to join the nuns for dinner, he asks the mother for his wages. Noticing her difficulty in understanding him, he turns to the Bible and points to Luke 10:7: “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.” The nun, grasping his intent, points to Proverbs 1:14: “Cast in thy lot among us: let us all have one purse.” When Smith insists that he be paid his wages, Mother Maria Marthe refers him to Matthew 6:28-29, “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you. That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Silenced, but by no means convinced, Smith is determined to go on his way.

Nevertheless, the next morning when the nuns expect Smith to drive the nuns to a nearby town to attend the Sunday Mass, he finds it difficult to decline. Being a Baptist himself, he has no interest in attending the Mass, so while the nuns are at the church, he enjoys a hearty breakfast and learns of the community’s pessimistic attitude toward what they consider the futile efforts of the nuns. However, his nascent empathy vanishes when the priest reiterates the mother superior’s belief that with the God-sent help, her chapel would be built. Smith resents being treated as God’s gift to the nuns and retorts that he has no intention of fulfilling their expectations.

Despite his continuing resistance, Smith is moved by the faith of these simple nuns. He has always worked for others and has no idea of how to proceed. Yet the idea keeps him preoccupied, primarily for the challenge it offers him. However, in the absence of bricks and other materials, there is little to be done.

The events that follow lead to Smith’s accepting the challenge. When he drives the mother superior to Orville Livingston to request bricks, Livingston not only is unwilling to help the nuns any further but also is even less inclined to change his mind when he finds that a black man is expected to build the chapel. This condescending, racist attitude fuels Smith’s determination to prove his ability. He offers to work for Livingston for two days a week and uses the money earned to buy food and construction materials to begin his project. He builds the foundation on the days he is not working for Livingston, though the lack of resources limits his progress. In despair, he drives away from the farm.

Initially, Smith revels in the town life: working, sleeping, eating at his will, but he cannot get the mother superior’s dream out of his mind. After a few weeks, he returns to the farm bearing the gift of an old tub for the nuns and some windows for the chapel, items recovered from a demolition job in the city.

The nuns express no surprise at his return. Once the work begins and people see his commitment, the entire community pitches in. Many obstacles impede progress on the chapel, yet Smith does not give up. Eventually, Livingston, impressed by Smith, sends a load of fine bricks, and soon the chapel is completed.

The night before the first Mass is to be held at the new chapel, Smith leaves with a sense of having completed his mission. The narrator provides the subsequent developments. The unique appearance of the chapel and the history of its construction draw a stream of visitors and the resulting fame brings money, allowing the nuns to realize their ambition to run a school for Spanish boys on the premises. The chapel, situated at the center of the buildings, honors Saint Benedict the Moor, and an oil painting of Smith by Sister Albertine hangs on the wall at the back.

Christian Themes

The Lilies of the Field is primarily about the power of prayer and faith and the need for humility in accomplishing one’s goals. It was a daunting task for five German-speaking nuns to escape from communist Eastern Europe, come to a strange land, and dream of their own chapel and some day a school for poor Spanish boys. Not only did they lack material resources but also they had no one who believed in their dreams. Yet, Mother Maria Marthe never doubts that God will help them. Thus the power of faith is at the heart of the narrative.

Homer Smith also learns the lesson of humility. Initially, his attitude of self-sufficiency and independence, a defense mechanism for dealing with the racist attitudes prevalent during the period, makes him reject the help of the community. He has skills and is proud of his intellect and ability to survive. Even after he is certain that the nuns are totally oblivious to the color of his skin, he bristles at the slightest provocation. Gradually, he undergoes a spiritual regeneration, realizes that ignorance breeds superstitions and misunderstandings, and sees the importance of humility in his life. He accepts the fact that building God’s house leaves no room for individual glorification but offers an opportunity to bring the community of worshipers closer. Smith’s odyssey teaches him to be a better human being and accept his role of being an instrument of divine will.

Sources for Further Study

Kelly, M. E. Review of The Lilies of the Field. Kirkus (February 1, 1962): 128. Basically, a brief summary of the plot.

Levin, Martin. Review of The Lilies of the Field. The New York Times Book Review, April 22, 1962, 23. An explication of William Barrett’s attempt to show “the basic goodness” in all people.

“William E. Barrett Dies at Eighty-Five: Author of Lilies of the Field.” TheNew York Times, September 17, 1986, C22. This obituary of Barrett sums up his life and works.

“William E(dmund) Barrett.” Contemporary Authors Online. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2006. Biography of the author that lists his works and briefly describes his life.