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Saint Paul
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Weeds are everywhere

Father Thomas Sieg
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The parable of Jesus in Matthew 13 is often referred to as “The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds,” even though Jesus never says that the good seed is “wheat.”

It is a reasonable assumption. However, the parable is primarily about the sower and the harvesters. The sower and the harvesters have very different ideas about the value of the wheat and the weeds. They have very different plans to deal with both plants growing in the field. It is the tension between these two conflicting visions that provides the lesson of the parable.

The harvesters have one clear focus on what needs to be done to the weeds. They see that the job they must do is “go and pull them up.” They are ready to tear out every one of those weeds and destroy them. If a few wheat plants are destroyed in the process, that is just the price that must be paid.

The sower, however, sees things in a different way. He is focused on the value and importance of every wheat plant growing in his field. Every plant that grows to fruition will be a blessing for the person who receives it and eats it. Destroying even one plant is too great a price to pay.

The sower has two virtues that the harvesters lack. He is patient and knows that human judgment is imperfect. Some wheat could be destroyed because it is growing so close to the weeds. Some immature wheat could be mistaken for an immature weed. He is willing to allow both to grow together. When the harvest comes, every plant will be cut down and the wheat will be clearly distinct from the weeds.

“The field is the world,” Jesus says. Every group, every community, every country in the world will have some people who do not seek what is good and fair for others. The only way to be sure that our kindness and generosity go only to those who deserve it, is to give to no one. Perfect justice is beyond human wisdom and human planning. It is the work of God.

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You and I can act with “due diligence.” We can try to be sure that our good works will go to help those who truly need it. But despite our best efforts, there will be occasions when others will take advantage of our kindness. We may not like it, but we must not hold back our love simply because some will not be worthy. We must trust in God for the justice we want, not in ourselves.

When I was a young priest someone took several hundred dollars from me by lies and deceit. I was angry and finally was able to send him away. Then I had to face the question: “What will I do when this happens again?” I gave the question a lot of prayer and thought. In the end I decided that I would be “just fine” if it happened again.

I have been greatly blessed, and I will not let a few deceitful “con men” keep me from trying to be a blessing for others.

Father Sieg is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He can be reached at tomvictory@nuveramail.net.


Sunday, July 19
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 


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