We’ve all heard the parable in the gospel today about the weeds in the wheat. Some of us can pretty much recite the whole story from memory without even reading it. We are pretty sure that we already know all there is to know about this parable. In a way, we do. It’s so simple and to the point, that it can only be looked at in so many ways. If we know all about this parable though, then why do we have such trouble applying it to our everyday lives?
For an example, some people get a little irritated over Catholics who are not living by the faith that they profess to believe in. It seems hypocritical. They overlook a lot of our most basic beliefs, like the value and dignity of every human person. That marriage means marriage in the biblical sense. Nothing has changed that in thousands of years, so why are our politicians passing laws that redefine marriage? Most Catholics are faithful to their marriage vows or remain unmarried if their marriages were not annulled. However it seems unfair that there are others who divorce their spouse and marry another, and still receive communion without the benefit of an annulment.
In other words, we live by our Catholic beliefs – why don’t they? Why do people call themselves a Catholic if they don’t agree with our beliefs? It’s not a very good reflection of our faith for this type of Catholic to be included in our church, when they publicly contradict some of our most basic Catholic beliefs. Some of our politicians have become a public spectacle, because they openly defy our pope and the most basic teachings of our Catholic faith too. Women are being illegitimately ordained as a Catholic priest for an example. Why doesn’t someone do something about this?
You may be asking yourself though, what does this have to do with today’s gospel? Jesus basically saying, “don’t be too concerned about it”. Yes, all these things are true. God’s holy people, His kingdom, has been infiltrated by the enemy. This has happened to us in almost all the Catholic communities throughout the world.
When the slaves asked if they should go pull the weeds out of the wheat in today’s gospel though, Jesus said, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.”
This is something we really do need to consider as well. The division and uncharitable discord that would occur if we publicly confronted every single weed that appears in our church, would hurt the other members of the church too. These people, these “weeds” have other family members and friends that would also be affected, and taking strong action against them could damage the faith of the family members and friends who love them. The negativity could be enough to make them leave the church. If you publicly confront one person and they leave the church, it could affect the rest of the family too, including future generations as well.
There is another thing to think about. Sometimes the “weeds” change their minds. In other words, what looks like a weed might actually be wheat that just hasn’t finished growing yet. We sow seeds, and water the plants but God alone gives the growth. We are not God and we do not know what the future holds for those that we view as “weeds” in our church right now. The thing is that we need to live our faith out the very best we can, without being overly concerned about the sinful lives of other people in our church. Our own holiness is what Christ wants us to focus on. He will take care of the rest.
Today’s gospel ends with a substantial reassurance of our own salvation and that justice will be served to those who disobey the Lord. It is reassuring, that we are His. But, it is a stern warning to those who insist on “being different” from the rest of us, that they will face him on the day of reckoning. Being “different” more “progressive” or “open minded” could cost them their souls in the long run. Let us pray for them, that this does not happen, for they do not know what they do.
