I used to live in Wagga, and at certain times in the year paddocks would be covered with a poisonous week called Salvation Jane, or better known as Patterson’s Curse. Although this week looks beautiful during the growing season it can be damaging if it gets into the newly growing crops. A similar ting happens with the weeds in today’s Gospel (Mt 24-30) so, why does the Owner let them remain until the wheat harvest?
That is exactly where our focus must be: on the Owner. This is his farm; this is his crop; he sowed the seed; ask yourself: but he seems very patient with the weeds. I think it is true that each one of us has been both “weeds” and “good wheat” during our lifetime.
When we listen to the words of God’s gospel that’s sown in our hearts, and then act on it, we bear good fruit. But when we stray from God’s word or ignore it, we usually sin, and we become as useless as “weeds.” But thank God for his patience!! He doesn’t treat us as “weeds” to be destroyed, as we deserve, but patiently waits for us to repent, to “change” back into good wheat. Over and over he gives us chance after chance to change our lives.
The Church is for sinners, and we acknowledge that we’re all sinners. Or, do we? Perhaps instead we “rank” ourselves on a scale of goodness that’s always weighed in our favour? When we tend to “judge” others in this world, with a “proud” stance of moral superiority, it can be good and very humbling to remember the many times that we, too, were obviously “weeds” that deserved to be eradicated. We need to hold up our “mirror of personal history” to keep the record straight, and our hearts open. Did you ever consider that because of your daily good example, you can be a turning point for someone else, a “seed” that can take root in their hearts and result in interior change?
Maybe we need to “hug a weed,” i.e., to show the justly disregarded that they are still loved as one of God’s creations -- an acknowledgement that no matter how bad they have been, they are a “brother” or “sister” to us. There is always a chance to “turn back,” before the final harvest – thanks to a patient harvester.
The Church “welcomes sinners back” and is always herself in need of purification; all members must acknowledge that they are sinners. In everyone, the “weeds of sin” will still be mixed with the “good wheat of the Gospel” forever. However, due to our weakened human nature, the struggle of conversion for most of us will be a daily effort until the day of our death.
That is exactly where our focus must be: on the Owner. This is his farm; this is his crop; he sowed the seed; ask yourself: but he seems very patient with the weeds. I think it is true that each one of us has been both “weeds” and “good wheat” during our lifetime.
When we listen to the words of God’s gospel that’s sown in our hearts, and then act on it, we bear good fruit. But when we stray from God’s word or ignore it, we usually sin, and we become as useless as “weeds.” But thank God for his patience!! He doesn’t treat us as “weeds” to be destroyed, as we deserve, but patiently waits for us to repent, to “change” back into good wheat. Over and over he gives us chance after chance to change our lives.
The Church is for sinners, and we acknowledge that we’re all sinners. Or, do we? Perhaps instead we “rank” ourselves on a scale of goodness that’s always weighed in our favour? When we tend to “judge” others in this world, with a “proud” stance of moral superiority, it can be good and very humbling to remember the many times that we, too, were obviously “weeds” that deserved to be eradicated. We need to hold up our “mirror of personal history” to keep the record straight, and our hearts open. Did you ever consider that because of your daily good example, you can be a turning point for someone else, a “seed” that can take root in their hearts and result in interior change?
Maybe we need to “hug a weed,” i.e., to show the justly disregarded that they are still loved as one of God’s creations -- an acknowledgement that no matter how bad they have been, they are a “brother” or “sister” to us. There is always a chance to “turn back,” before the final harvest – thanks to a patient harvester.
The Church “welcomes sinners back” and is always herself in need of purification; all members must acknowledge that they are sinners. In everyone, the “weeds of sin” will still be mixed with the “good wheat of the Gospel” forever. However, due to our weakened human nature, the struggle of conversion for most of us will be a daily effort until the day of our death.
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