Lilies of the Field

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these
.”
(Matthew 6:28-29)

When handyman Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) stops at a farm for some water, he meets a small group of nuns who ask him to fix a roof. Hoping to earn a bit of spending money for his travels, Smith sets to work and finishes the chore before the day is over. Only then does he discover that the nuns are convinced he was sent by God to help them build a chapel. Smith is reluctant to help, eager to get paid and get back on the road, but little by little the strong-willed mother superior and the good-spirited nuns persuade him to help just a little bit more and a little bit more.

After getting a part-time job nearby, Smith agrees to build the chapel, as long as the nuns can provide the building materials he’ll need. When this proves to be a challenge, the proud Smith will have to decide whether or not it’s worth sticking around.

This light-hearted classic from 1963 (which earned Sidney Poitier his Oscar for Best Actor) reminds us that gentle persistence and unwavering trust in God pay far greater dividends than anxiety and impatience. The film also warns about the dangers of letting ego and pride get in the way of honest work. The film is unrated, but would most likely be PG, and is appropriate for the whole family.

Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
USCCB rating: A-I
92% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide