Homily (Reflection) for the Sixteenth
Sunday of the Year (A) (19th July, 2020) on the Gospel
Wis 12:13.16-19;
Ps
85:5-6.9-10.15-16 (R.V. 5);Rom 8:26-27;
Matt 13:24-43 or Matt 13:24-30.
Topic: Wheat and Weeds.
In today’s gospel, the householder
planted good seeds (wheat) in his field but the evil one came and planted the
weeds. The evil one achieved his aim when everyone was asleep, cf. Matt 13:25. Hence, Christ warns,
“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come” (Mk 13:33). Saint Paul also admonishes,
“… let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober” (1Thess 5:6).
The householder did not allow his slaves to gather the weeds
before the time of harvest. Before that time, wheat could easily be mistaken
for weed. Both were allowed to bear fruits because judgement will be based on
the fruits that each bears, cf. 2Cor 11:15;
1Pt 1:17; Rev 14:13. Again, some of the seeds sown by the householder may
end up being fruitless. Jesus admonishes, “Bear fruits that befit repentance,
and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I
tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Lk 3:8). Saint Paul asks us to walk as
the children of light that we are, cf. Eph
5:8. Being a child of God without corresponding fruits is useless.
Consequently Jesus warns, “...now the axe is laid to the root of the trees;
every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire” (Matt 3:10).
One may ask, ‘Who are the wheat and who are weeds?’ Jesus’
answer: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16, cf. Matt 7:20).
For Saint John, there is a clear demarcation between the two, “The children of
God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do
what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers
and sisters” (1Jn 3:10). He also
wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves
is born of God and knows God” (1Jn 4:7).
Again, “Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God” (3Jn 1:11).
It is a privilege to be a child of God, cf. 1Jn 3:1. One can either accept or
reject this. However, only to those who received and believed are given the power
to become children of God, cf. Jn 1:12.
Jesus warns, “Remember then what you received and heard;
keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you
will not know at what hour I will come upon you” (Rev 3:3). Again, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds
awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them
sit at table, and he will come and serve them” (Lk 12:37). And again, “…I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who
is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!” (Rev 16:15). It is by being awake and
producing the fruits worthy of the call that we can be truly sons and daughters
of God and will consequently shine as lights, cf. Phil 2:15. God is forbearing towards us. He does not wish “that any
should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2Pt 3:9). Dear friends in Christ, “now is the acceptable time; behold,
now is the day of salvation” (2Cor 6:2).
Bible Reading: Matt 7:15-20; Mk 13:32-37; 1Pt 2:11-17; 1Jn
2:29-3:10.
Thought for today:
Are
you wheat or weed?
Let
us pray: Lord, we
have been weeds in thoughts, words, actions, and/or omissions. Help us to be
wheat and also to bear desired fruits – Amen.
You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider
it worthy.
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