Readings
for Proper 10A:
Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43; Ps 86
July 17, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
By the Rev. Karen Siegfriedt, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Cupertino CA 7/17/05
Who is our enemy, how should we respond to the evildoers in the world, and will goodness triumph in the end? These are questions of faith; questions that Christians often ask as they struggle to be faithful in this chaotic and suffering world. Sometimes, Christians are hasty in making decisions, and they respond to evil from a place of fear and retribution. Other times, Christians are more thoughtful, and carefully consider the wisdom that is offered in the Holy Scriptures before responding. I will use the parable of the wheat and the weeds found in today's gospel and psalm 86 for insight into answering these questions of faith.
Today's psalm includes a few verses, that people all over the world, pray. While the actual words may differ, the intent is the same: "The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent men seeks my life. They have not set you before their eyes…Turn to me and have mercy upon me…Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed." [Ps. 86] We all have enemies that can hurt us and we all want to be free of them. This is a universal human experience. However, what is not universal, is the name of the enemy because the enemy is different for each person.
People who are poor and powerless often see the enemy as the rich and powerful. Children often see the enemy as one of their parents. Fundamentalists see the enemy as liberals while the democrats often see the enemy as republicans. Zealous Muslims see the enemy as unfaithful Christians while citizens of the United States see the enemy as those trying to destroy our high standard of living. People living with addiction see the enemy as drugs and alcohol while those living with cancer see the enemy as the proliferation of harmful cells.
It is clear that evil exists and that people are harmed. It is clear that there is a difference between good and bad. What is not always clear to human beings however, is exactly who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. If we were pure of mind and heart, if we were not so wounded, if we were not so deceived by our own passions and desires, if were not so fearful and ignorant, then we could clearly discern the righteous ones from the evildoers. But we have a long way to go before we are able to see the world and others as God sees them. This is why today's gospel suggests leaving the final judgment up to God.
Matthew's gospel deals with practical human problems that people are confronted with every day; matters such as anger, sexual behavior, divorce, hypocrisy, taxes, money, possessions, and church discipline. You may not like what the text says but you have to admit that the gospel of Matthew deals with down-to-earth issues. This is the case with Jesus' parable of the weeds and the wheat. In this parable, Jesus explains what he means. He is the householder, the field is the world, the good seeds are the righteous ones and the bad seeds are the bad guys. The enemy is Satan- a term for the ultimate tempter and deceiver of humanity. The harvest is judgement day. Since names and dates are not specifically given, this parable could be applied to at least three different contexts: The Church, the world, and one's own inner self. Let's begin with the Church.
Most congregations have to deal with conflict within their own communities of faith from time to time. Committed members, who have perceptive visions about what the church ought to be and do, exist side-by-side with those who are indifferent or those who are motivated only by self-interest. This can paralyze an entire congregation resulting in a slow death, a diminished passion for the gospel, and an ineffective mission to the unchurched. So what are we to do?
Today's parable warns a congregation to be very careful in judging others and getting rid of those parishioners we do not like. It addresses the mixture of the good and not-so-good but urges all to be patient and proceed with caution. It is not that the householder is indifferent to the weeds or doesn't care. Rather, he knows that any premature weeding is bound to damage the wheat as well, and that final judgment belongs to God.
On a national level (within the Episcopal Church) there are two groups of people who are struggling with the future of the Anglican Communion. These two groups are on different sides of a divide. One group is made up of zealous traditionalists, who want to purify the church from liberal thinkers and gays. The other group sees tradition as evolving, and believes that it is better to err on the side of inclusivity and grace. That is why we, at St. Jude's, say: "Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here.” While a “zealousness to purify the church” might yield a stronger community, this kind of zealousness is called into question by today's parable. Zealotry often has blind spots and can result in the uprooting of wheat along with the weeds.
Now when it comes to identifying the weeds in our society, our institutions, and the world, the task becomes even more difficult. Who is the real enemy? How do we identify the weeds from the wheat? If you were a wheat farmer, you would know that the darnel weed (which grows in a wheat field) looks very much like the wheat itself. Who are the ones who have been blind to human need and suffering, and indifferent to injustice and cruelty? Who are the ones who have uncharitable thoughts toward their neighbors and contempt toward those who differ? Who are the enemies who stand by, and do little to prevent the deaths of over 6000 children who die each day from hunger? Are we the enemy or is the enemy the political and economic structures that allow 80% of the world’s resources to service only 20% of the population?
When it comes to suicide bombers, who are the real enemies? Is the enemy those individual desperate souls who have no power or money to change their lot in life, and thus are brainwashed to commit the most destructive act imaginable? Or is the enemy the distorted theology or unjust society in which they find themselves? When it comes to the waste and pollution of creation and our lack of concern for those who come after us, who is the real enemy is this case? In 1970, Walt Kelly, author of the comic strip Pogo, wrote a prophetic cartoon about the environmental crisis saying: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
When I look at all of the injustices in the world from a humble perspective, I realize that I have not loved my neighbor as myself. Because of this, I give thanks that God is “gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.” [Psalm 86] As I continue in my own journey towards faithfulness and wholeness, I pray for the grace to be likewise.
Finally, as we become more contemplative and take an honest look within ourselves, we are bound to find many weeds growing up between the healthy stalks of wheat. In my own life, my biggest enemies are the demons within myself; the false self that harbors resentments, hurts, and painful experiences from the past. Whenever I am faced with an unpleasant situation, I not only see what is at hand, but what I do see is clouded with historical baggage from the past, causing me to become more fearful and angry. So in response, I try to practice the spiritual disciplines, which open me up to the grace of God. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can be healed of these old wounds and thus give space for righteousness to flourish within me.
*When the master of the parable forbids the servants to go and weed out the field, this is not to be interpreted as a call to passivity in the face of evil. It is not a divine command to ignore injustice in the world, violence in society, or wrong in the church. It is rather a realistic reminder that the servants do not finally have the ability to get rid of all the weeds and that sometimes attempts to pluck up weeds cause more harm than good. So, are we lost forever, in a hopelessly compromised world? No! The parable contains the promise that in the wisdom of God, the weeds will ultimately be destroyed. Evil is temporary and only the good endures. Thus, the parable leads us to a place of hope and joy. We live in an imperfect world, and no human effort can eradicate that fact. But that was never our job anyway. Our job is to live as faithfully and obediently as possible, confident that the harvest is sure. [*The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume VIII, pg. 311, Abingdon Press]
“Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask...” [BCP 231]
| Updated 7/19/05 |
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