Reflection
Today’s readings reveal our complete dependence upon the mercy and goodness of God. The prophet Jeremiah writes with tear-filled eyes, pouring out his heart to God and asking uncomfortable questions:
Have we been cast away from you, God? Are we loathsome because of our sins? Are we beyond healing or redemption? These questions emerge from a heart overwhelmed by pain and fear of rejection based on a sober assessment of their spiritual condition. But Jeremiah does not stop there. He continues with other questions which confirm that neither idols nor even the “mere heavens” (the created world apart from God) could sustain them. Taken together, all these questions are a cry for mercy from a prophet aware of his own needs and the needs of his people.
Matthew’s gospel contains a rare interpretation of a parable. When Jesus taught in parables, He typically required the listeners to ponder the stories on their own. Today’s gospel explains a parable. Jesus reveals the patience of the Master of the field, who did not want the workers to pull the weeds prematurely lest they uproot the good wheat, too. However, He chose to emphasize the end of the growing process, when weeds are collected and burned and the harvest of good seed is gathered in.
Farmers collect and burn weeds to prevent their seed from being established. This is done with thistles and other noxious plants, which might otherwise gain a foothold among crops. If weeds become too extensive, the field must be tilled and replanted to eradicate the weed population. But this also eliminates the good plants. Even modern chemistry is not foolproof on selecting weeds from desirable plants.
Weeds remind us of Adam’s choice against God. They exemplify sin that corrupts and harms. Sin is so prevalent in our world. As the hospital for sinners, even the church is not safe from these effects. Saint Augustine saw the church consisting of both weeds and wheat. His greatest concern for new converts was not the influence of the pagan world, but the influence of bad Christians. How often do my actions, words and choices lead my faithful brothers and sisters astray?
All of us sinners read this parable and Jesus’ explanation of the final judgment with uneasiness. We know that without the grace of God, none of us can produce a harvest worthy of being gathered by the Master. We are at risk of being choked out by weeds. God created us, in His image and likeness, to be good plants; recall that the weeds were sown by the enemy, not by the Master. To remain good plants, we must stay connected to the Righteous Sower of the field and not be deceived by the enemy, becoming a weed plagued by addiction, envy, sloth, pride, greed, lust, gluttony and wrath.
Fortunately, there is more to the story. We are not abandoned in an endless cycle of struggling with evil; that struggle continues only for a time. God is in control of the harvest and the fire. While part of me reacts at times like Jeremiah, fearful of rejection, I am also drawn with confidence to the mercy and love of God. He demonstrated His unconditional love for me through His Son, Jesus Christ. Although Jesus is the Sower, He is also the seed who died and brought forth new life in me. Through Him alone I am allowed to bear fruit. Let us pray from today’s psalm, “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver me,” forgive my sins and keep me on the path to Heaven.