Matthew 13:24-30 Let them grow togetherThe Lord proposed a parable to the crowds regarding the Kingdom of heaven in which the weeds and wheat are allowed to grow together until harvest. The parable describes all humanity, saints and sinners, to live together until the Day of Judgment. But why? Don’t we run the risk of having some of the weeds choke and kill the wheat?
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God” (Ps 84:2). Why allow sinners and saints to be together? Don’t we run the risk of poisoning the stream? Or allowing one bad apple to ruin the entire bushel? Should parents allow their kids to make friends with those who may lead them astray, to sin? Many years ago I was in charge of a Catholic youth club. I demanded only the best from the kids and made it very difficult for troubled teens to join. I wanted to keep the culture of the club very positive and very Catholic. An elderly and wise priest told me that I should allow some trouble makers to become members. He gave the example of boiling water as key to his philosophy. He explained to me that allowing troubled kids to enter would be equivalent to pouring cold water in a boiling pot. I agreed with him. But he went on to say that the water would soon rise again in temperature to the boiling point since the fire underneath it was still hot. He told me that we are called to do something amazing - to convert sinners; to change lives; to re-create the face of the earth one soul at a time if necessary. To set the world on fire and to keep the water boiling! Otherwise, we have no other reason to exist! And there is no other reason for the earth to exist. We must save souls!
The parable of the weeds and wheat given to us by Christ is very interesting because he makes it clear that the Father will not condemn the sinner until the very end of time, his time. Death puts a period (.) to the question mark (?). “Who are you?” will finally be answered upon death. So, do not give up on anyone! But what goes beyond the parable is Christ's power over the weeds. This is our story because this is the amazing power or grace of God… that saved a weed like me! God's transforming power converts weeds to wheat, and wheat to the Body of Christ, his flesh and Church.
Today, humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
As a parent of a teen, it was so difficult not to try to keep her from hanging out with those who could pull her down.
ReplyDeleteI told her often that it was so much easier to be pulled down than to be pulled up. Gravity alone makes it so.
But I slowly (very slowly) I began to trust that God was in control anyway and that by this time in her life, all I could really do was pray. And I did tons of that. Thank you Jesus for the example of St. Monica! I haven't been praying as long as she did, yet. Hopefully I won't have to.
And even now into her 20's, she's not where I'd like her to be, living the life that I know God wants for her, but the part about it not being over til it's over is very consoling to this mother.
Thank you Father for that reminder:)
THIS IS THE KEY: ..."God's transforming power converts weeds to wheat, and wheat to the Body of Christ, his flesh and CHURCH!!!! If we don't give a chance to the weed to be converted, we are not giving a chance to the Church to grow. We would be just preaching to the choir.
ReplyDeleteThank you Father for remind us our purpose in earth.