Saturday, July 23, 2022 - Are there some whom you deliberately exclude from your circle of friends? Why?

To read the texts click on the texts: Jeremiah 7:1-11; Mt 13:24-30

This is a parable found exclusively in the Gospel of Matthew. It is not clear whether this parable existed independently as a parable or whether it was conceived as an allegory from the beginning. Those who think that the parable existed independently interpret the parable to mean a statement against building of boundaries and so excluding some. The building of boundaries and forming exclusive communities is not the business of human beings, but is God’s task.

The point seems to be that even though the kingdom of God has been “sown,” evil continues to be real and effective, and it attempts to understand the interim period with its challenges on the basis of the beginning and especially the completion of the kingdom. In other words, the sowing is all important. Once the seed (wheat) is sown, no matter what the obstacles, there will be growth. The task of the disciple is therefore not to concentrate too much on the darnel (though they are aware of its presence), but to rest firm in the knowledge that since the sowing has been done, the gathering is assured.

Like the field in the parable there is good seed and there are weeds even in the world in which we live. There is both good and evil. We are called to take only what is good and not focus too much on the evil or bad. This does not mean passivity in the face of evil but a call for a discerning mind and heart.