How can we live with the evil in the world? Jesus answered with the parable of the wheat and the darnel, whose force hits us every day. It is about having patience with the persistence of evil in the world. We may face malicious vandalism, like the enemy who sowed weeds in his neighbour’s field. In their early stages the weeds looked like wheat, and you could not root up weeds without taking some wheat as well. So too some of the evils we face are dressed up to look respectable. We have to fight evil, but we need not give ourselves ulcers if we find that society remains far from perfect. The final judgment lies with God. Lord, you remind me of my impatience when faced with evil in the world. Let me learn to wait for the wheat and the weeds to grow. Otherwise my judgments will likely be too hasty and mistaken. You warn us against the illusions of inquisitions which tried to eliminate sin by laws and bonfires. You do not ask us to coerce people into what we think is the right path. Part of me is impatient to root out evil, like the servants offering to weed out the darnel. You tell me to wait on God’s judgment and trust that the goodness of his seed will prevail over the weeds. May I learn patience. When faced with violent people, I will not let their way of treating me determine my way of treating them.
Let me learn to wait for the wheat and the weeds to grow. Otherwise my judgments will likely be too hasty and mistaken. Amen.
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