***
Gospel: Matthew 13: 24-30
Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man
who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Rome, often referred to as the Eternal City, is a place filled with history, art, and intrigue. It captures the Catholic imagination in a way that almost no other city does.
Perhaps no place does this better than the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
It’s been the subject of conspiracy novels; the site where popes are elected in secrecy; where tourists squeeze together – twisting, turning, staring up in awe at the marvelous frescoes, the most famous being Michelangelo’s Divine Judgment.
The Divine Judgment is a massive mural spanning over 45 feet along the entire back wall of the chapel, depicting the final battle between good and evil.
Angels rescue souls, lifting them up into heaven, while demons drag others down into eternal fire. It’s a harrowing scene drawing its inspiration from today’s Gospel.
“Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,” Jesus says, “so will it be at the end of the age.”
***
There are over 300 figures in this magnificent fresco. Located near the center is the face of Michelangelo himself.
Nearly slipping out of his skin, Michelangelo is being held up by an angel as he dangles between heaven and hell – giving the impression that his soul is being weighed in a balance.
Michelangelo reminds himself – and the viewer – that he, too, is an imperfect believer.
His soul is filled with a combination of weeds and wheat; sin and grace; doubt and faith. God alone is his judge. And God alone can save him.
***
Like Michelangelo, aren’t we all a combination of weeds and wheat; sin and grace; doubt and faith?
***
There are parts of us that are undeniably good. The faith, hope, and love present in this community is inspiring. Some days, it feels like we’re writing a story on parish renewal together. I’d call it, “How to energize a Catholic community in 21st century America.”
And yet, individually and collectively, none of us is perfect.
Like Michelangelo, at times I see weeds within myself which the Lord desires to uproot. By “weeds” I mean thoughts, feelings, or actions that prevent me from growing closer to Jesus and to my neighbor.
Where do these weeds come from? Who sows these seeds?
***
The Gospel tells us that these weeds are sown by the Evil One while we are “asleep.”
In the bible, being “asleep” is often used as a metaphor for letting your guard down. When we are not careful with who or what we listen to, what we participate in, or how we treat others, then the weeds begin creeping in.
Why don’t we uproot them right away? What makes it so difficult to stop their growth?
Initially, weeds and wheat look similar. If a farmer tries thinning out his field too soon, then he may uproot wheat along with weeds in the process.
It’s a good image for how evil seeps into our lives; often it masquerades as something good. Only after we tolerate its growth, do we see just how damaging it is and how difficult it is to prune it out.
Think about teenagers. Sometimes they’ll do things to fit in with their peers – things like gaming, drinking, or drugs.
Suddenly, an action becomes a habit and that habit takes over their life. What seemed like a good or harmless intention, like simple curiosity or trying to fit in, was really a weed being planted while their guard was down.
The same idea can be true as we age. We permit people, ideas, or decisions into our lives that turn out to be destructive, squeezing grace out of us.
What might be some of the weeds present in my own life? Using biblical imagery, when do I let my guard down and fall “asleep”?
***
The good news is that God is patient with us. He withholds his judgment until the end, allowing sufficient time for continual conversion and personal growth.
This means that we should not only be patient with ourselves, but also with others, because Jesus never gave his Church the power to curse or to condemn; only to forgive and to bless.
Can I think of a person whom God is inviting me to pray for? Someone who seems to have more weeds than wheat at this point in their life?
***
Rome is a city filled with intrigue.
Perhaps no place captures the Catholic imagination better than Michelangelo’s epic painting of the Divine Judgment in the Sistine Chapel because it captures the essence of the human story.
We’re often a combination of weeds and wheat; sin and grace; doubt and faith. We oscillate between the things of heaven and earth. We need God to save us.
May the Holy Spirit, “who comes to the aid of our weakness,” intercede for us today.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Wurttenberg und Mompelgard altarpiece (2) Cappella Sestina, Vatican, Michelangelo (3) The Collector
