Scripture:
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Romans 8:26-27
Matthew 13:24-43 or 13:24-30
Reflection:
The Holy Spirit: Our Spiritual Caretaker
Though the Lord is kind and merciful there will be a time he will judge us all. This is just and right as we see from the book of Wisdom in the first reading:
"For your might is the source of justice" – Wisdom 12:16
In the second reading Paul tells us that Christ does not leave us blind or alone in this life. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to teach us to pray and live.
"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought."
– Romans 8:26
The Spirit knows our heart and is there for the times we fall to weakness. He will guide and be within us, if we allow Him to be.
These readings set us up for the main parable Jesus teaches us in the gospel. In this parable He speaks of a householder who grows wheat in the fields. One day, weeds begin to appear. The householder tells his slaves not to dig up the weeds until the harvest.
"Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time…collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn." – Matthew 13:30
The Lord gave us good ground from which to start yet we all know that there are weeds in our lives and in our world. When we grow amongst the weeds we can choose to wither and die from their influence or we can thrive in the face of their presence. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can thrive by knowing the path that we are taking is just and right. The path he leads us down will put us into the hands of the harvesters and into the barn instead of the fire. The Spirit gives us the tools we need to do our own personal weeding.
What is dragging us down in our lives? What is keeping us from bearing beautiful fruit? Within our own fields we have weeds that drag us down. What are we doing with these weeds?
The Psalm tells us as long as we ask for forgivness and mercy it will be shown to us. What we often forget is that the Lord is good and forgiving. There is no problem too small for God’s great attention and mercy. If we let those weeds fall unattended, they will engulf us until we no longer resemble wheat.
As you reflect this Sunday on the Parable of the Weeds, look at the weeds that have grown around you. The Holy Spirit is your spiritual caretaker and will guide you to bear good fruit for the harvest, if you let Him.
Are you wheat, or weed?
Kim Garcia is the Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.