The Wheat and Weeds

07-18-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

Dear Friends,

There have been predictions in recent times that many Christians will lose their faith by the end of this unprecedented pandemic. Studies have shown that most people who lose their faith during the time of crisis do so because they cannot imagine how a good God will allow bad things to happen to good people. At times like this we may ask, if God is all-powerful and all-loving, why doesn’t he intervene in the situation in the world today? Why doesn’t he remove bad people or prevent them from harming good people? Why can’t he prevent evil from the world?

In response to such questions in the Gospel today, Jesus used the parable of the wheat and weeds to explain that God is very patient and loving to both the good and bad people. He gives everyone enough opportunity to repent before the end of time. If we pay very good attention to the parable, and especially in the context of the other two parables that Jesus gives in the Gospel today, we will realize that the wheat and weeds actually reside side by side within each of us. Although we are created in the image and likeness of God, our free will causes us to be imperfect. The question we need to ask ourselves then is, “Am I perfect?” If the answer is no, then the next question is, “Should God destroy me because I am imperfect?”

The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven in the Gospel today teach us that even if we have a tiny seed of goodness in us, we can consciously nurture it, grow closer to Christ and overcome any element of evil within us. When we are overwhelmed with the awareness of our own weaknesses, let us remember the words of St. Paul in the second reading today: “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Rom 8:26). May God nourish our little faith and the seed of goodness in us to overcome the evil in the world.

Thank you and remain blessed,

Fr. James

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