Taken in Vatican Museum, 2012, by Martha Wiggins
“Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:24-43
In this Gospel from Matthew, Jesus explains to His disciples, and us, the parable of the seeds sown among the weeds.
Can it be made any clearer? The evil and all who sin will be harvested out by angels and then thrown into the fires of hell. The harvest he describes can be vividly seen. The weeping and gnashing of teeth can be loudly heard.
Can the contrast be any greater? The evil get to burn in hell, weep and gnash teeth, while the righteous, the people of the kingdom, get to shine like the sun in heaven with God!
Can the choice be any easier, and yet any tougher? It is easy to say, “Yes, I will be one of His kingdom,” but, it isn’t easy to be righteous among the evil. At times the evil appear to have it all, to be having fun and enjoying the fruits of their sinful behaviors. To remain good the righteous must remember how the evil will fare in the end, and must ever focus on the prize … to shine like the sun in heaven.
A favorite hymn of mine, written in 1979 by a Catholic Priest, Michael Joncas, expresses it so beautifully…
On Eagles’ Wings
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, “My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust.”
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
For to His angels He’s given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
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