Let Them Grow Together Until Harvest
Dear Parishioners,
In the parable of the sower, Jesus expands our understanding of the Kingdom of God that He inaugurates. He is the farmer who spreads the seed of God's Word all around Him. This seed is entrusted to the soil, which symbolizes the crowd gathered around Him. Each listener receives the seed of God's Word and bears fruit according to the disposition of his or her heart.
God's Word may appear small and ordinary, yet it should never be dismissed, for it is living and powerful. The humble beginnings of Jesus and His ministry point to this reality. His work can be compared to a mustard seed, one of the smallest of seeds. Some ridiculed Him, while only a few welcomed Him. Even today, there are people who ridicule the teachings of the Church. Others, including some believers, selectively choose which doctrines to accept and which to reject. Some prefer to define their own morality and religious practices, even when these contradict divine law and Christian tradition.
What value is there in being Catholic if one does not practice the faith? What does it mean to profess belief in God yet live as though He does not exist? At times, it seems that we are entering a new era of paganism. It is precisely for this reason that Jesus came—to plant the seeds of hope, faith, and life.
If we welcome the seed and nurture its growth, the fruits of our good works will become visible signs of God's Kingdom. The tiny mustard seed should not be despised, for it will become “the largest of plants.” It will provide shelter for “the birds of the sky” in its branches. Jesus seems to suggest that all humanity can find a place within His Kingdom, for it is large enough to welcome everyone.
The Kingdom may begin modestly, but it continues to grow. It often remains hidden while it is transforming the world, but that should never lead us to doubt its presence. Just as yeast causes dough to rise, so even the smallest seed of God's Word has the power to transform us.
Yet we must remain vigilant. The enemy is still at work, secretly sowing weeds among the wheat, as the Gospel tells us. It is the devil who prowls about seeking someone to devour. We must resist him.
We cannot ignore the presence of weeds that sometimes threaten to choke the good seed. Questions naturally arise: Why does evil exist? Why does God permit it? Why is the world not entirely good? Why do we sometimes resist the teachings of God? We can ask countless questions concerning the scandalous and painful reality of evil.
Jesus offers a surprising answer: “Let them grow together until harvest.” The final separation will come at the harvest, for only then will true discernment and judgment be possible. Until that time, wheat and weeds remain intertwined; removing the weeds prematurely could also destroy the wheat.
In this teaching, Jesus offers an important lesson on patience and tolerance. How valuable this lesson is in a time of deep political and moral divisions within our society. At the same time, we acknowledge the reality of Satan and his work of deception and destruction.
We ought to accept what Jesus teaches us. None of us can be fully satisfied with who we are or what we have become, because we are continually being transformed. As St. Paul reminds us in the second reading, we need the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and guide us along the path of holiness.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
