This plant looks like an angel's trumpet.

july 17, 2005

Weeds Among the Wheat Mt 13:24-30

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
The weeds pulled out before harvest time, might remove some of the good wheat also. The workers must wait till harvest time to pull up the weeds to burn and then gather the wheat. There is a proper time for all things. Pulling out the weeds before the proper time would have removed some of the good wheat. At times in my attempt to do good, I do not always do things at the proper time and the proper way. It is important in order to do the greatest good and God's will to do things at the right time and in the best manner. There will always be the struggle of good and evil.

The evil weed does not last at the time of harvest it is burned in the fire, death and the end. The good wheat is stored in the barn and its good seed is planted again and again, life eternal. The wheat is a symbol of life and the Eucharist, God's life giving power of salvation. We ourselves can not each pull out every sinful, evil weed throughout our lives, but at the judgement, then God can take the evil, the weed and burn it in the fire, while saving the tender wheat next to it. The farmer who has a barn filled with grain has a continued life and a future.

The grain of wheat in its cycle of life must die so that another plant may grow from it's seed. The parable of this grain of wheat dying to give life is for me one of the most powerful lessons about the nature of life and death. It has helped me to accept the death of loved ones as a part of God's greater plan in this universe.