Readings: Romans 8: 12 to 25 and Matthew13: 24 to 30, 36 to 43

Weeds! Who here likes weeds? What is the definition of the term weed anyway?

In gardening a weed is a plant that grows where the gardener doesn’t want it to grow. I do remember being on my hands and knees digging out dandelions from our lawns in the past, maybe you have too, or you may have used selective weed killer. The worst thing to get rid of is Ground Elder!

For farmers who are not producing organic produce, the usual thing is to reach for selective weed killers so that weeds have died before the seeds are formed. People in the ancient world didn’t have access to chemicals, and therefore what could they do? If they were impatient, they would do as the parable suggests and as Jesus must have observed happening, they would attempt to weed. Problem is some weeds look remarkably like the plants they are growing amongst until they flower. And disturbing the soil by digging out weeds disturbs the crop as well so the harvest is less than it should be.

We live in a world where good and evil exist side by side. And in politics especially amongst the radical right wing there is a temptation to want to cleanse communities, hence the demands to always know the racial background of people who commit crimes. But evil acts are perpetrated by people of all backgrounds, all faiths and none. Evil deeds have no skin colour, just as good deeds don’t.

Fear of the other is a very natural human reaction, but as God’s people we have to resist to rushing to judgement. One might ask as the commentator Tom Wright observed: ‘Would people really like it if God were to rule the world directly and immediately, so that our every thought and action were weighed, and instantly judged and if necessary, punished in the scales of his absolute holiness?’

When telling the crowds this parable, did Jesus perhaps have an eye here on the revolutionary groups of his day, only too ready to step into God’s field and pull up what looked like weeds?

There were many groups in Jesus’ day including some of the Pharisees who were eager to fight against pagans on the one hand and against compromised Jews on the other. These people were tired of waiting for the arrival of God’s Messiah and instead thought they were helping God by acting themselves, if necessary, by using violence. Very sadly we are still seeing this acted out in the Middle East.

At the heart of the parable of the weeds and the wheat is the note of patience – not just the patience of the servants who have to wait and watch, but the patience of God himself. I am sure that God doesn’t enjoy the sight of a cornfield with weeds all over the place, but nor does he relish the thought of declaring harvest-time too soon and destroying wheat along with weeds.

Rabbis in Jesus time and since have recognised this, and speak of God’s compassion

being paramount, delaying the judgement day so that more people can be saved at the end.

Jesus in speaking this parable is on the same lines. When the disciples heard Peter declare Jesus to be the Messiah by the Jordan River at its source at Caesarea Philippi, they would immediately have thought – great the time is now! Everything will be put right.

If you remember, Jesus then goes on to explain that from there on in, he has to make the journey to Jerusalem where he will be handed over to the authorities and he will be killed. Peter rebukes Jesus saying ‘never!’ And Jesus turns to Peter and rebukes Satan for speaking through Peter.

Jesus had to explain again and again that the disciples’ expectations were wrong. Yes, there would be a judgement coming soon, but that was on sin and evil. Jesus was going to go the cross, and in that act of sacrifice, the price of sin and death that entered into the world in the Garden of Eden would be paid for, and the way to heaven would be opened to all who believed in his name.

Jesus explained this to Nicodemus in John 3: 14 through 17

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Going back to the call for patience:

Peter had learnt from his speaking out of turn at Ceasarea Philippi for in the second letter of Peter, chapter 3 verse 9 we read:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is patient with you, he is patient with me, he is patient with everyone.

We in turn have to be patient. We have a job to do before Jesus returns and that is to share the hope that we hold with the people that we know and we know that Jesus is with us leading us and guiding us and helping us through the Holy Spirit.

Every blessing. Peter