When it comes to the teaching of Jesus, especially his parables, do we get it or understand? Last Sunday, also from chapter 13 of the Gospel according to Matthew, we heard Jesus preaching the parable of the sower and the seeds, which was followed by a detailed explanation of the meaning of the parable to his disciples. 

Today, a similar dynamic occurs. Jesus teaches the parable of the weeds among wheat to the people and then later unfolds its significance to his disciples. Both instances, I cannot help but notice, indicate that the listeners, especially the disciples, did not fully understand. This parable begins his lessons on the kingdom of heaven.

In chapter 17 of the Gospel according to St. Luke, Jesus points out both the nearness and elusive nature of the kingdom of God when he states: “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.” 

Yes, the kingdom of God is already among us, especially because the Lord is among us and all that is necessary to make the kingdom present is within our reach, if only we love as he commands us. 

That provides us a frame of reference for appreciating the parables we listen to today and the ones we will hear next Sunday. Today’s parable is interesting in that it helps us to understand how God’s kingdom coexists with the reality of the time of Jesus and with our world today.  

The field is sown with good seed but still vulnerable to the sinful influences of the world in which we live as symbolized by the weeds. In that context, as Jesus points out, it is not always easy to distinguish the weeds from the wheat, meaning that even in our time, it is not possible to fully separate the kingdom from the world that surrounds it. 

That is not meant to be considered as a defeat for the kingdom. For, as St. Paul reminds us in chapter 5 of his letter to the Romans, “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” The kingdom of God is present in the world in order to redeem it and show us the way to the Father. 

His heavenly Father’s kingdom is real and present, but as Jesus makes clear, it is not always recognized and followed. This Illustrates well the words of the prophet repeated by Jesus, “I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.” 

The signs of the kingdom, God‘s handiwork, his goodness, and the presence of Christ in our midst are real and true, but can escape our vision, both ocular and spiritual. The disciples, just as their contemporaries, did not always recognize the kingdom in their midst. 

One of the ways in which we can recognize God‘s kingdom is to be patient enough for him to manifest himself, to be patient enough to discern his grace in what we face in our personal lives and what our society faces.  

One of the vestiges of original sin that we are often reluctant to admit is that we want it all and we want it now. Jesus teaches us to be patient, to shift our focus from ourselves to God and what he is up to in our lives and all around us. Pope emeritus Benedict XVI writes, “the world is destroyed by the impatience of man and saved by the patience of God.” 

The parable of the weeds among the wheat teaches us that even in the midst of difficulties and apparent failure, the good Lord is up to something. His love and mercy are at work and constantly available. Pray for faith to recognize God’s kingdom in the midst of the confusion and violence and despair of our times; pray for patience to enjoy the sweetness of his graces.