Homily for Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time

At the request of His disciples, Jesus explained to them the Parable of the Weeds in the Field. The heart of the parable is the separation of the good and the wicked at the end of time. Jesus strongly hints that until that final separation, good and evil will exist together in the world and the Church, and even within our own hearts, minds and souls. The weeds and the wheat grow together, and the final separation will be made by God in the Final Judgment at the end of time. It is not the place of anyone to judge another’s moral quality in the present time since judgment about people’s motives belongs to God alone.

 

A favorite theme of Pope Francis has been that we should be slow to judge. It is very easy to see ourselves as the wheat and identity others as the weeds. We need to remember what Saint Paul said to those who were judging him, “Do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.”[1] Remember that “the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”[2]+

 

 

 

[1] 1 Corinthians 4:5

[2] Psalm 145:8