Sunday Readings: Wisdom 12.13, 16-19; Romans 8.26-27; Matthew 13.24-43
The slaves asked, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” “An enemy has done this,” the master replied. “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” “No,” the master answered, “ for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn’” (Matthew 13.27-30).
This parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a farmer who sows good seed but whose slaves find weeds in the field. The master lets the process of life and growth take place. But after the crowds are gone and the disciples question Jesus, his explanation gives the story a double meaning and the threat of judgment.
The sower is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seeds are children of the kingdom; the weeds are children of the evil one. The harvest is the end of the age. The weeds will be bundled and burned.
The parable turns into a scary allegory of end times. Ultimately God will sort out who is worthy of the kingdom. Perhaps there will be some real surprises at the final curtain call!
Sunday’s gospel also compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed and leaven. A mustard seed is very small in comparison to the size of a grown plant! The growth living power of God’s kingdom that has its own time and great promise.
Leaven becomes invisible in bread dough, but its presence transforms the wheat flour into dough, larger and airier. The parable calls us to imagine God’s power as leaven that functions invisibly, bringing about God’s reign. Life takes time; God’s reign will take time.
In the end, God’s wisdom is not human wisdom. Some apparent weeds may be flowers. The smallest of seeds may yet grow into a plant that provides hospitality for many creatures.
Leaven may be slowly transforming the world even though human eyes cannot see it working. Such are the mysteries of the reign of God in the human heart and in all creation.
What leaven do you hope you are in your community of faith? What small effort do you hope grows much bigger?