The Parable Of The Weeds

 

Today's Reflections

Reflections

The Parable Of The Weeds

July 17, 2011, 8:00am

MANILA, Philippines — MATTHEW 13:24-43 (or 13:24-30)
 

Jesus proposed another parable to [the crowds, saying:] “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? 

Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”

Then, dismissing the crowds, He went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned [up] with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will collect out of His kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Reflection:

Let them grow together until harvest. Is it possible to have pure black or white, with no shades in between? Can a pure society of select men and women be established? I believe there will always be weeds among the wheat. The Lord will allow them to grow together. His rain will fall on the good and the bad alike.

So what are we to do about the weeds in our lives?

1. Let us not be hasty about uprooting them as well as the weeds in our surroundings. Let us not be harsh on them. They are usually the work of an enemy.
 

2. Let us not give up growing simply because there are weeds or bad seeds among us. We can still grow even amid the weeds.
 

3. Let us not just react to situations; instead, let us make plans and decide for growth and harvest.

Visit a prison or a rehabilitation center on your day off.