Beloved in Christ,
We began reflections on the parables of Jesus last Sunday, focusing on the obstacles to the flourishing of Christ's teachings and the growth of the Kingdom of heaven. We have three more parables today, and we shall see three more next week, for a total of seven in Mathew 13. The parables for our consideration this Sunday center around growth in God’s kingdom. Of particular focus is the parable of the wheat and weeds growing together. The sower sowed good seed, but the enemy sneaked in to sow weeds, that is, darnel, which is a weed known for its poisonous element. The disciples asked: “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” Jesus replied: “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.” Jesus permits the good and the bad to be active side-by-side in his kingdom. Why not pull up the weeds? There is indeed a purpose for not removing the weeds from the wheat until the end of time, when God will make the judgment.
There is an argument made in Tradition by some Church Fathers to explain why Jesus does not want to pull up the weeds; why Jesus allows the bad to live alongside the good in the church. St. Isidore of Pelusium offers an explanation that I will not share with you: “The sinners, represented by the weeds, are not to be immediately pulled and burned in order to give them time to repent. God forbids the angels to gather up the evildoers, lest they uproot the good wheat together with the tares, that is, so that the sinner may not be cut off while in his mind there is yet a possibility of repentance. God did not slay Matthew, who had given himself to the exacting of the tribute, so that He might not thus impede the preaching of the Gospel. Neither did he destroy the harlots who served lust and immodesty, lest models
of repentance might be wanting. He avenged not Peter’s denial, because already He beheld his burning tears of repentance. Nor did He strike down with death the persecuting Saul, lest the ends of the earth be deprived of salvation.” (The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers).
God is the generous giver of opportunities for repentance and growth. He is patient with us and wants us to be
patient with one another as we continue our journey of growth in holiness and in the knowledge of the mysteries of
the kingdom.
Over the past week, from last Sunday through Thursday, our Vacation Bible School offered catechesis on the Kingdom of God, with an emphasis on Mary, the Mother of Christ, who leads us closer to her Son and His Kingdom. I am thankful to God for the amazing team of adults and youth volunteers who guided the sixty-one children who participated in the program. May it be an inspiration to closer work with Christ for everyone involved. A big thank you
to Georgann Azzalina and her Religious Education team.
We will begin our “Snacks with the Saints” series after the 10:30 a.m. Mass this Sunday. This initiative by the OCIA highlights the central theme of the VBS, the love for Mary and all the Saints. Let us participate actively as a parish. This is an opportunity to learn and grow in our Catholic faith.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
We began reflections on the parables of Jesus last Sunday, focusing on the obstacles to the flourishing of Christ's teachings and the growth of the Kingdom of heaven. We have three more parables today, and we shall see three more next week, for a total of seven in Mathew 13. The parables for our consideration this Sunday center around growth in God’s kingdom. Of particular focus is the parable of the wheat and weeds growing together. The sower sowed good seed, but the enemy sneaked in to sow weeds, that is, darnel, which is a weed known for its poisonous element. The disciples asked: “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” Jesus replied: “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.” Jesus permits the good and the bad to be active side-by-side in his kingdom. Why not pull up the weeds? There is indeed a purpose for not removing the weeds from the wheat until the end of time, when God will make the judgment.
There is an argument made in Tradition by some Church Fathers to explain why Jesus does not want to pull up the weeds; why Jesus allows the bad to live alongside the good in the church. St. Isidore of Pelusium offers an explanation that I will not share with you: “The sinners, represented by the weeds, are not to be immediately pulled and burned in order to give them time to repent. God forbids the angels to gather up the evildoers, lest they uproot the good wheat together with the tares, that is, so that the sinner may not be cut off while in his mind there is yet a possibility of repentance. God did not slay Matthew, who had given himself to the exacting of the tribute, so that He might not thus impede the preaching of the Gospel. Neither did he destroy the harlots who served lust and immodesty, lest models
of repentance might be wanting. He avenged not Peter’s denial, because already He beheld his burning tears of repentance. Nor did He strike down with death the persecuting Saul, lest the ends of the earth be deprived of salvation.” (The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers).
God is the generous giver of opportunities for repentance and growth. He is patient with us and wants us to be
patient with one another as we continue our journey of growth in holiness and in the knowledge of the mysteries of
the kingdom.
Over the past week, from last Sunday through Thursday, our Vacation Bible School offered catechesis on the Kingdom of God, with an emphasis on Mary, the Mother of Christ, who leads us closer to her Son and His Kingdom. I am thankful to God for the amazing team of adults and youth volunteers who guided the sixty-one children who participated in the program. May it be an inspiration to closer work with Christ for everyone involved. A big thank you
to Georgann Azzalina and her Religious Education team.
We will begin our “Snacks with the Saints” series after the 10:30 a.m. Mass this Sunday. This initiative by the OCIA highlights the central theme of the VBS, the love for Mary and all the Saints. Let us participate actively as a parish. This is an opportunity to learn and grow in our Catholic faith.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
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