Gospel: Mt 13:36-43
JESUS dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as 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 who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
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In their early stage of growth, the weeds and the wheat look almost alike, and it is very difficult to distinguish one from another Jesus teaches his disciples to suspend any form of judgment or condemnation of other people because our criteria for discerning weeds from the wheat, false from real spirituality, can be faulty.
Jesus, however, says that God will be the ultimate arbiter between good and evil at the time of the final harvest. The final judgment is being delayed so as to give chance for all sinners to acknowledge their sins and beg for God’s mercy.
God is not indifferent to evil in the world; God is patient and tolerant with God’s children so that they can change.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
