One of the most baffling and mysterious aspect in our world…

… is the active & dynamic presence of evil in this world.

Today the Lord Jesus ventures into opening His mind on this crucial Reality of our lives….

A couple of days back, we were with the Generous Sower, who was madly liberal in sowing on different types of soil and which had their corresponding results (Mt 13: 1-9)

Today, we are back to the field….

>> But our deliberation is not on the Sower or the Seeds…

… but on the presence of Weeds among the Wheat (Mt 13:24-30)

Let the botany in us, focus today on The Weeds…. the Irritable Weeds!

Botanically named Lolium temulentum, the weeds are also called Darnel or Tares.

>> These weeds have a characteristic of making one feel poisoned with drunkenness, when consumed.

They also have the deceptive characteristic of bearing a close resemblance to Wheat.

>> In fact, these weeds are also called as False Wheat!

So the enemy in the parable…is a Learned Deceiver!

He sows this deceptive and misleading weed among the innocent and harmless wheat!

But the Lord, the Ultimate Judge gives out a strong, yet strange command:

“Let the weeds not be pulled up, lest the wheat be uprooted with them; let them just grow together until harvest!” (Mt 13:29-30)

>> Some mysteries in life cannot be fully understood…

… but is to be boldly lived!

>> Some struggles in life cannot be totally eliminated…

… but is to be bravely challenged!

>> Some problems in life cannot be completely solved…

but is to be fearlessly encountered!

Here is another hard reality to be digested: “God uses the very wickedness and injustices of evildoers to perfect his Elect.”

The triumph and prosperity of the wicked are short-lived…

…whereas the reward of the Christian who suffers from their wickedness is everlasting.

That’s a hard and unpopular and even impractical statement, right?

>> But Facts remain facts – we consent or not!

This leads us to a vital aspect of our Practical Christian Living: To be Patient with ourselves and with others…

… in dealing with sin

… with evil tendencies

… with horrifying obsessions

… with unacceptable practices

… with unalterable addictions

… and with abominable disgraces.

Often…

… we bite our teeth in anger glaring at the inhumanness in our society and the world

… we lose our cool in finding ourselves to be imperfect and sinful even after years of trying

… we go mad in encountering silly disputes and indifferences in our families & communities

… we have our blood boiling seeing the various scandals and shameful incidents in the Church

But the Lord says.. “Hold On”….

Surely, we have our emotions and feelings when we come across unjust situations..

But the Lord says:

” Do your best…and leave the rest to Me!

Aim for perfection….but give not into despair because of devastations!”

This certainly is no excuse for us to deny our duty and responsibility…

… and even the obligation to seek to avoid wickedness and dissuade evil practices.

But we may never find ourselves in PERFECT elimination of evil and sinful behaviours…

…either in our personal life, or societal life or even in the life of the Church.

The Ultimate Eliminator is the Lord Himself…

>> The Perfect Vanquisher is the Lord Himself!

>> The Supreme Conqueror is the Lord Himself!

Are all these too abstract, theoretical & impractical talks?

… NO!

St Paul gives an assurance in Romans 8:26-27:

The Spirit comes to our aid in our weaknesses. He Himself will intercede for us, when we co-operate with Him.”

God, who is all-powerful shares His Omnipotence with us…

… in the Holy Sacraments, in Prayer, in the Bible and in the Church.

Let us have recourse to this power of God, and be strengthened in our lives!

Let us try to do our utmost…

… but let us also permit to encounter disappointments…!

Let us strive for the finest…

… but let us fret not too much over failures and frustrations…!

The Lord knows all

>> HE sees all

>> HE has the perfect solution to all.

St Faustina says: “Our sins and weaknesses and miseries are like little sticks, before the burning furnace of the Love of God”.

Let us throw our little sticks into this burning furnace…

>> Let God be God in our Lives – the Ultimate Judge and Defeater of all Evil!”

We seek the intercession of St Alphonsa, whose feast we celebrate today.

>> Let us seek her intercession and learn from her the virtues of…

… being patient in trials

… being bold in situations of injustice

… being optimistic in moments of uncertainties

God Bless! Live Jesus!