Back to Jesus
Author: Pao LobrinHe put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[a] among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" - Matthew13:24-30
The weeds are supposed to be darnel, a poisonous type that resembles wheat at its first stage. Should the master/sower gave the "Go" signal to uproot the weeds, the servants are in trouble. How sure are they that they are uprooting a darnel? How sure are they that they are not uprooting the wheat?
For me, 'uprooting the weeds' meant addressing the wrong of others, but is not the same as fraternal correction and correcting one's own fault. To recognize, admit and address one's own mistake, even if it is still at its initial stage, are acts toward making one's life better. Young men and women can make their future better by rejecting alcohol and drugs. Fraternal correction is not a bad act if used wisely. I believe it is an act of courage if used quietly, calmly, discreetly; doing it out of love and charity; and not embarrassing others. However, the choice to renounce one's wickedness or to continue it belong to us (receiver), and not from the one giving the correction (giver). David realized his vileness through Nathan's story and explanation of the rich man who fed his visitor by stealing the poor man's only ewe [2 Sm 12: 1-12]. Lastly, addressing a mistake outrightly through harsh means never work for the better. Slapping, spanking or embarrassing a child for accidentally breaking a glass of water will never do good. Either the child will learn how to fight back, or be fearful, or will learn to be careful. There are studies that strongly back the fact that hardened criminals became as such because of the abuses, violence and unhappiness they experienced as kids.
Why did the master/sower wait until harvest time before uprooting both the wheat and the weed? Because he withheld judgment until the right time comes. As in our case, God is giving us all the time we need to repent until Judgment Day; break the cycle of sinfulness; and to be a better person.
Let us waste no time in going home back to Jesus through confession and reconciliation. Let us also educate the youth and the children to be better individuals that loves, cares and serves like Jesus.
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He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches." He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough." Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world." - Matthew13:31-35
When Jesus started the ministry, He was first by Himself, then He called followers, then so many followed Him through His apostles, then more followers are added because of so many men and women's witnessing. The kingdom of heaven - that is, the reign of God in our hearts and in our midst through our open, loving and dynamic relationship with Him and our neighbors - started small, but it continues to grow and flourish like a large tree that gives home to so many birds.
Two years ago, I read a book about the apparition of Our Lady in La Salette in the year 1846. Mr. Germain Giraud, the father of Maximin, was said to be very hard on his son, doesn't pray nor practice the Catholic faith anymore. When news of the apparition spread, like so many curious people, he decided to visit the place where the Lady appeared. Something happened to him during the visit because he was no longer the same man when he returned home. He became a loving husband and father, a good neighbor, and an active member of the local Catholic church.
Just like Germain Giraud's experience and the mustard seed, the reign of God in our lives may start small. It may start as a small curiosity, or it may start because we are touched by a friend's experience, or it may start after attending a bible sharing session. Jesus is inviting us to allow Him to nurture the seed of change and love in our lives. As it grows, our relationship with God and our neighbors will definitely be active, dynamic, open and alive just like a tree that lovingly gives shelter to birds and other creatures.
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"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." - Matthew13:44-52
As I read the passage, I cannot help but remember the treasures and other 'things' that I value before. From elementary until post-college, my treasures are getting awards and recognitions, money, getting through college, having a job and putting up a small software development company. After getting an award or recognition, the joy that it gave to me lasts for only half a day. College graduation is not really such a happy affair for me. Having a job did not make me happy despite receiving a good salary. I walked away from my dream of putting up a software development company. Because Jesus and life with Him are my real treasures in life.
I used to value rest, relaxation, siesta and other laid-back activities. Now, it doesn't make me happy anymore. I used to despise manual work. Now, I yearn for it. Sometimes the real treasures in life are the most trivial like catechizing natives about Jesus, bible sharing, praying the rosary as a group, being thrifty, honesty and so forth.
Sometimes the old must give way to the new. However, there are situations where the old and the new must work together. Jesus is inviting us to NOT forget the lessons of the old, but to bring it to its fullness through Him. Past sins should remain in the past, but the lessons from it should be remembered and should help us be better individuals.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/back-to-jesus-7054911.html
About the AuthorSpreading the Word. Ipse Christus. https://reflections-pcl.blogspot.com