This parable of Jesus drives us to reflect upon a very crucial perception we undergo in everyday life. In the worldly standards, the suggestion of the servants appear to be a good suggestion as any well-informed farmer would do. But when it comes to the application of this parable in the field of human heart, the words of the master project itself to be words of wisdom. The master prevented them from pulling the weeds for this one reason, “when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them.” The master knew how difficult it is to distinguish between the wheat and the weeds. They look so much alike.
Our human perception and experience is so limited and finite in comparison with the Divine intervention. When applying this indistinguishable fact in our human relationships, it is really difficult to differentiate between the “wheat” and the “weeds”: To differentiate between the genuine lovable person from the not genuine; To differentiate between the faithful person from the unfaithful; To differentiate between the truthful person from the untruthful person. But still we proceed with our human relationship with lot of complexities with a hopeful trust in the person whom we love. If that is the phenomenon among human beings, how much more it would be with God who is so loving and caring unconditionally towards each one of us personally.
Thank you for your reflection Fr. I agree that in the initial stages it is difficult to differentiate between the "wheat" and the "weeds", the "faithful" and the "unfaithful". But sharp observations over long periods of time of both will bring out clear differences to even the averagely intelligent. In our human world, strangely we are deeply attached to weeds knowing fully well that they are but weeds. Not once, but over and over again! In fact, we even tend to "support" weeds over the wheat. So it is with those who do evil and those who do good. Some of us cling to those who think, speak and do evil to us and to others for different reasons- An attraction or fear?
ReplyDeleteWe are quick to betray, insult, hurt or put down those who are true to us because we take them for granted. But we are willing to go to any level under the pretext of Christian charity to forgive, respect and maintain relationships with those who are damaging to us and others. In so doing we will even gladly hurt the one who is true to us just to please the evil doer. If we are to argue about Christian charity and values as reasons for this "commitment" to evil doers, then does Christianity teach us to belittle the one who has been good to us?
It takes at least two people to have a relationship whether of love, friendship or business and if it is one sided, it will last only for a very brief period. Every emotional relationship is based on trust and respect for the other and if this is absent in the heart of one or the other then the relationship is dead.
Human relationships are indeed complex. But to love is to be fearless no matter what the cost. When trouble arises, the lover protects the loved one and should never throw "the lamb in front of the lion to hide behind the rocks" selfishly for one's own safety. Every love relationship need not necessarily end like a fairy tale but each of us can contribute to good memories in every relationship that we enter into for the period God allows it. It takes strength from God, honesty, courage, and effort to build relationships. As for the attraction for the weeds, could it be because “birds of a kind flock together?”