Wednesday, April 27, 2016

"Do you want us to go and gather them?"


He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24-30)

This parable definitely has eschatological teachings in regards to the Resurrection in the harvest and Last Judgment in the separation. But it is compelling and strangely wise how Jesus handles this situation. Just let them grow together. He is not concerned about what may or may not happen to the wheat because of the weeds. Not anxious about the wheat being harmed. Just let them. He seems confident that his wheat will mature. My impression is that the situation is as he will's it and that things are under his control. No panic.  No sense of urgency.  The mistake would be to uproot the weeds before the time.  That would damage the wheat, and ruin the field.

Like I said compelling.  Otherworldly.  The impatient human response would be to go grab the weed puller and start ripping up the field which would destroy it all.  But this is not the response of the Master.           

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