Matthew 13:24-43
Some folks have said that the hot days we’ve been having are good training for all those who will burn when they go to hell. Naturally, they are excluding themselves and thinking of the people they don’t like.
Jesus told stories about the Kingdom of heaven with a futuristic projection. He told stories about a field, a mustard seed, and yeast. The stories are related since they take us from realities that we can understand to realities that we can only appreciate, like eternity. When the crowd was dismissed, Jesus explained the story about the field to His disciples and we have the benefit of the explanation. However, we are still left dangling because Jesus used symbolic language. Consider that we no longer have a close relationship with the land. Much of our planting is done by machines. We have pesticides to get rid of weeds. Few people plant or handle seeds. Yet, we can know that some seeds yield a rich harvest while others are chocked by weeds. The reality of good and evil have coexisted long before the world was created. We want to be on the good side. Yet, the two voices are inside of us all the time. Our Guardian Angel speaks God’s will to us, while the dark side speaks about pride. The sin of pride, the sin of disobedience will get us into trouble. The easy way is popular, the difficult way leads to the cross. The choice is ours. No doubt that we fluctuate due to circumstances in our life. The real measuring stick is peace or lack of peace in our heart. If we are doing what God wants, then we are happy. The opposite also holds.
An examination of our day is usually helpful to affirm what was fruitful and to avoid what was negative. Charitable acts of kindness can be spontaneous, even among people we do not know. Visitation of the sick gives flesh to the words, “I was ill, and you came to visit me.” Throwing in a measure of forgiveness on the folks with whom we have not spoken will have positive consequences. Holding a grudge is from the other guy. Resentments only give rise to more resentments. When we purposefully refuse to forgive the hurt grows like a cancer. Fact is that negative feelings are the cause of some the illnesses in our body. The weeds of resentments can grow to the degree that we become suspicious of everyone. The evil one sees that there are already weeds of resentment in our heart and causes them to spread. Negativity gives rise to more negativity. That’s why people stop talking to each other. No communication is deadly for any relationship.
The primary field where the Kingdom of heaven is manifested is the family. The family is where evil most desires to plant weeds. Most children are home for the summer. Some families have the luxury of taking a vacation, while others cannot afford a trip. Looking at the same faces, the rise in temperature, perhaps economic pressure—all contribute to arguments. The weeds can get out of control. “I was bored, so I pulled my sister’s hair.” “The dog got in my way, so I kicked him.” “It is not my turn to wash the dishes, do them yourself.” Feelings can easily get hurt. The weeds will grow when we refuse to apologize. A simple, “I’m sorry”—makes the weeds disappear. In the Kingdom of heaven weeds can go away and the seeds of forgiveness can flourish. We do not have to accept the reality that we see. We have the power to change our life, which might have a positive effect on those near to us, especially our family. So many feel like giving up. No quitters are allowed in the Kingdom. There is always reason to hope for a better tomorrow. We are the ones who take care of the field. We plant good seeds and keep the weeds at a minimum, through our actions. We have been entrusted with the Kingdom.
We make choices every day. We want to be counted among the good seed that will produce an abundant harvest.
Some folks have said that the hot days we’ve been having are good training for all those who will burn when they go to hell. Naturally, they are excluding themselves and thinking of the people they don’t like.
Jesus told stories about the Kingdom of heaven with a futuristic projection. He told stories about a field, a mustard seed, and yeast. The stories are related since they take us from realities that we can understand to realities that we can only appreciate, like eternity. When the crowd was dismissed, Jesus explained the story about the field to His disciples and we have the benefit of the explanation. However, we are still left dangling because Jesus used symbolic language. Consider that we no longer have a close relationship with the land. Much of our planting is done by machines. We have pesticides to get rid of weeds. Few people plant or handle seeds. Yet, we can know that some seeds yield a rich harvest while others are chocked by weeds. The reality of good and evil have coexisted long before the world was created. We want to be on the good side. Yet, the two voices are inside of us all the time. Our Guardian Angel speaks God’s will to us, while the dark side speaks about pride. The sin of pride, the sin of disobedience will get us into trouble. The easy way is popular, the difficult way leads to the cross. The choice is ours. No doubt that we fluctuate due to circumstances in our life. The real measuring stick is peace or lack of peace in our heart. If we are doing what God wants, then we are happy. The opposite also holds.
An examination of our day is usually helpful to affirm what was fruitful and to avoid what was negative. Charitable acts of kindness can be spontaneous, even among people we do not know. Visitation of the sick gives flesh to the words, “I was ill, and you came to visit me.” Throwing in a measure of forgiveness on the folks with whom we have not spoken will have positive consequences. Holding a grudge is from the other guy. Resentments only give rise to more resentments. When we purposefully refuse to forgive the hurt grows like a cancer. Fact is that negative feelings are the cause of some the illnesses in our body. The weeds of resentments can grow to the degree that we become suspicious of everyone. The evil one sees that there are already weeds of resentment in our heart and causes them to spread. Negativity gives rise to more negativity. That’s why people stop talking to each other. No communication is deadly for any relationship.
The primary field where the Kingdom of heaven is manifested is the family. The family is where evil most desires to plant weeds. Most children are home for the summer. Some families have the luxury of taking a vacation, while others cannot afford a trip. Looking at the same faces, the rise in temperature, perhaps economic pressure—all contribute to arguments. The weeds can get out of control. “I was bored, so I pulled my sister’s hair.” “The dog got in my way, so I kicked him.” “It is not my turn to wash the dishes, do them yourself.” Feelings can easily get hurt. The weeds will grow when we refuse to apologize. A simple, “I’m sorry”—makes the weeds disappear. In the Kingdom of heaven weeds can go away and the seeds of forgiveness can flourish. We do not have to accept the reality that we see. We have the power to change our life, which might have a positive effect on those near to us, especially our family. So many feel like giving up. No quitters are allowed in the Kingdom. There is always reason to hope for a better tomorrow. We are the ones who take care of the field. We plant good seeds and keep the weeds at a minimum, through our actions. We have been entrusted with the Kingdom.
We make choices every day. We want to be counted among the good seed that will produce an abundant harvest.
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