The Wheat and Weeds
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
After midweek communion this week, I finally got round to the rose bush at the front of the house — it had been niggling at me for weeks. In amongst the roses I found bindweed and bramble making themselves thoroughly at home (though I confess a soft spot for blackberries). And it seems I’m not alone: with the heatwave dominating the news, gardeners everywhere are finding that while lawns turn brown and flowers wilt, the weeds are absolutely thriving. Weeds, it turns out, don’t need much encouragement.Which brings me to this week’s Gospel. Jesus tells of a farmer who sows good wheat, only for an enemy to creep in by night and sow weeds among it. When both spring up together, the servants want to pull the weeds out straight away. But the master says no — wait. Pull the weeds now and you’ll uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow until harvest, and sort them then.It’s a strange bit of farming advice — no gardener or farmer today would leave weeds to run riot until harvest! But Jesus isn’t teaching agriculture; he’s teaching us about the Kingdom of Heaven. And the question the parable stirs in us is an honest one: why does God let the weeds grow? Why isn’t everything put right now?Here’s the heart of it: the master’s patience isn’t neglect — it’s love. Tearing out the weeds would harm the wheat, and God will not risk his people to hurry judgement along. He wants the wheat to grow tall and strong, with full ears and a bountiful harvest. The full putting-right of the world is a promise still to come; but what has already changed, through Jesus, is our relationship with God — restored, forgiven, held in grace while we grow. Jesus doesn’t tell this parable to leave us hanging, but to prepare us, and to give us a glimpse of the Father’s patient, protecting heart.We’ll dig into this more on Sunday. In the meantime, it’s Little Harrowden’s Fete this afternoon from 12pm — do come and join us for games and a BBQ!