Gospel Reflections for July 23 2017
What kind of world is this?
Each week it seems there is a new fierce political battle, dangerous threat from North Korea, or some other dramatic crisis in the world.
How would Jesus talk about this?
Today’s Gospel presents our troubled world with the image of a field, in which grow both life-affirming wheat and life-threatening weeds …together at the same time. Jesus affirms our world is neither a place of only bad news or only good news. It is a mixed place with stories of extraordinary goodness, personal heroism, and remarkable saintliness right alongside stories of extraordinary selfishness, evil motives, and bad behavior. Maybe you can discern both good and bad events happening at the same time in your own neighborhood too.
The Gospel affirms it is just simply not true that our world is only good or only bad. Reality and truth demand that we open our eyes and see what is actually going on, which will include many examples of both good and bad things happening at the same time. (Of course, I am always glad if I see more goodness than anything else!)
But then Jesus adds an even more important message. He indicates what our response should be while living in this crazy mixed-up world, and it is a very helpful lesson!
Whenever we encounter bad people, we should never let their lack of faith, hope, and love change our faith, hope, and love!
If we are examples of “wheat” then we must continue to live as such, even if “weed” people are all around us. After all, if we have faith and love in our own hearts …why would we let anyone who does not have faith and love change us? We should be affecting them, not the other way around!
That can happen if we ask for the grace from Our Lord that he offers at this mass. Then we will never become discouraged but always and everywhere encourage others instead. We will never feel alone but rejoice also in the communion of saints in heaven who constantly intercede for us.
We live in a very big world that was designed by God in His wisdom to have both wheat and weeds living alongside each other. Let us make sure that everyone we meet will know just which one we are!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Well stated. It’s something that’s so obvious, but we don’t always remember. Thank you for the reminder.
You are welcome!
It seems that Jesus used a lot of agricultural examples in his parables. Too bad that we don’t still have local family farms to keep those images in front of us.
Yes, and interesting there are no carpentry stories. However, you are right in that most of us are far removed from farm life today.
Reading … the saints in heaven intercede for us … is very comforting in so many ways, particularly when praying for adult children living and working in far-away places.
Yes, the parable of the wheat and weeds is always thought provoking and inspiring.
Thank you, Father Dave, for your wonderful weekly messages.
You are welcome!
It is very easy to get discouraged with all that is and isn’t happening in this world today. Thanks for reminding us not to give up hope.
Yes, we can never give up hope!
I love Jesus’ way of teaching, using objects around him. (He might have been a farmer if he was not a carpentar.)…Yes, to live a Christian, God-driven life…making it very obvious to an observer that we are “wheat”….”not weeds.” It can be very EASY to allow the “weeds” to influence our worldy outlook on things. It is a joy to know and be around someone who sees the goodness around him. I think to myself upon observing someone full of joy and postitiveness…… “I want to be MORE like him.” They are an example in my life.
Well said!
Very poignant. I reflect on past friendships I have had in my life, one of which was particularly caustic. Sometimes we need to reflect and re-evaluate the people we associate with by recalling what attracted us to them in the first place. If the association was rooted in some type of weakness such as loneliness, convenience or even a culture of alcohol, then perhaps the friendship is superficial and not genuine. Once one removes oneself from this type of “weed,” it is easier to be authentic and recognize the wholesome, genuine relationships we have in our lives.
Yes, I like your thoughts about this. Wisdom usually comes from reflecting on our mistakes. Well said!
Father Dave i love the beautiful thought of Our loving Jesus holding one of my hands and Our beautiful Blessed Mother holding the other and leading me in life to be good wheat for others!!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee their precious love!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!