Proper 11

Preparation

Please begin by reading Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided the text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--What About Those Weeds?

Matthew continues his retelling of Jesus' parables. As usual, this one is rich with topics to explore. This parable and its interpretation have both "now" implications for what it means to live out our Christian lives day to day and "then" implications for the future. Among other things, it is an occasion when Jesus uses the enigmatic "Son of Man" title as a means of self reference. Many scholars think that this title, which is strange and perhaps jarring to some 20th century people, is a reference to an apocalyptic figure in ancient Jewish tradition. Certainly there are "end time" resonances here.

Perhaps the most important thing about this parable, though, is that it gets right down to the problem of the existence of evil. People of faith have been perplexed from the beginning of time about how evil can exist if God is good and is also all powerful. Like the workers in the field, we are troubled about the problem of all those "weeds."

One commentator observes that "the parable does many things. It distinguishes God and evil and takes both seriously. It tells us that God recognized the difference between good and evil, does not approve of the evil, and intends to take care of the problem at the appropriate time."

The commentator is correct in suggesting that this is a passage that not only distinguishes good from evil, but also distinguishes God from evil. While there is much nonsense afoot in the land at any given time, some of the most deeply offensive includes statements like "AIDS is God's punishment" or "I wonder what she did wrong that she has cancer?" While mystery remains as to why God allows evil to exist, this parable makes it crystal clear that God is not the creator of evil, the one who plants the weeds. Indeed, statements such as those quoted are slurs on the Divine not far short of blasphemy!

But in a way, this parable deepens the mystery. Whatever the reason may be that evil continues to exist, it somehow is involved with God's love for God's own-"the good seeds." The reason for not immediately destroying evil is somehow tied up with a risk for the children of God were that to happen. We are advised, in effect, to have faith that God is working things out and to have patience in the meanwhile. Somehow at the bottom of it all lies God's great love for God's children. Evil can not ultimately prevail in the presence of such care.

revclay

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Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43

[Jesus] put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 

"And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?  Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 

"He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ 

"The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 

"But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.  Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

 *  *  *

 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. 

And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 

He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 

"Just as the 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 causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Let anyone with ears listen!” 

 [NRSV]