Gospel: Mt 13:24-30
Jesus told the people another parable, “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man, who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep, his enemy came, and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared. Then, the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’ He answered them, ‘This is the work of an enemy.’ They asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ He told them, ‘No, when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let them grow together, until harvest; and, at harvest time, I will say to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Reflections
Let them grow together In the 4th century. Donatists rejected priests and bishops whom they deemed morally unworthy to confer the sacraments. They established what they called the sole true Church. In the following centuries the Cathars, Manicheans, Arians, Bulgari, Albigenses and Patarenes all attempted to purify the Church by weeding out those they have found spiritually and morally wanting. In response, the Church, basing her stance on the Lord’s teaching to allow the weeds to grow and mingle with the wheat until harvest time, has constantly made room not only for saints but also for regular sinners, like you and me.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2018
