I hope everyone is doing well, and having a good summer.
Well, Labor Day is only a few days away, and for many that is the end of
summer. Of course, down here in South Florida, I think summer is actually over
on the first week of November…lol. If you live down here, you know what I am
talking about. As I always tell everyone, it stays hot and muggy for a long
time here. Anyhow, I noticed that tomorrow is the end of the month, and I had
not posted anything. I have to post something, at least once a month, so this
is it. This is an apologetics blog, and I was thinking that maybe I should
write something about the images of coins in the eyes that show up on the Shroud of
Turin image. That may be a great idea and theme, but I don’t really think I have done
enough research to just write something about it at the last minute. Okay, I
decided what to write about. It probably isn’t the first time I write in
reference to this, and it probably won’t be the last. I am going to share a
reading from the Gospel of Matthew that I always enjoy, and make a brief
comment. In fact, it was the Gospel Reading at church on the Seventh Sunday after
Pentecost, and it is found in the Gospel of Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43. It reads
as follows:
“”24 He put before them another
parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed
in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore
grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder
came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where,
then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The
slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he
replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with
them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and 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....’”
...36 Then he left the crowds and went
into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the
parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good
seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the
children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the
enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the
reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,
42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in
the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears[a] listen (NRSV)!””
I always enjoy reading the Scriptures, and I hope you just
did, as well. This parable is one of those that seems very clear and to the
point. My take on it has always been very similar to the homily given by the Dean
at church on that day of the liturgical year, I will still share my views,
regardless. Obviously, in this passage, the weeds are growing together with the
wheat; however, it appears that it is difficult to differentiate one from the
other. Hence: “The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather
them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the
wheat along with them.” Basically, if one applies this passage to our time and
age, we also do not know the difference; therefore, it is not our job to pull
the weeds. Jesus said: “40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with
fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his
angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all
evildoers.” The emphasis is that “Son of Man will send his angels,” and they
will do the job. Well, that is my post whether you agree or not. Either way, I
am not into interpreting Scriptures, and I really do not recommend it to anyone
because the assumption that one literally and wholly understands what is being
read is often made during interpretation…to me that is being slightly arrogant.
Of course, that is just my opinion! Hope you enjoyed reading! Blessings!
Reference:
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Bible
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