16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
17 July 2011
Today’s Readings: Wis 12:13, 16-19/Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-33
REFLECTION
The parable of the weeds in the wheat field could be likened to the presence of the good and bad in a person, family or society. A person has virtues and vices or bad qualities; the family has good and bad moments or experiences; a society consists of good and bad people. In the Gospel, the farmer did not destroy the bad weed but allowed it to grow with the good wheat. In the same way, God loves both the good and the bad and blesses them with rain, food, air for breathing and sunlight for warmth.
God’s patience with our weaknesses and frailties shows us a loving God who does not give up on us and who slowly chips away at the hard layers of our hearts so that in the end, all of us will be united in his love. Jesus asks us to pray that we may be delivered from the forces that cause evil and suffering. Let us stop evil from multiplying by not contributing to it any further. This we can offer by doing good and by obeying Jesus’ command of love at all times.
