19/07/2026
Gospel Reading
Matthew 13.24-30; 13.36-43
The Parable of the Weeds
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed
weeds among the wheat, and then went away.
So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.
And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?”
He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The
slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?”
But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.
Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the
weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
What do we make of this parable? What does it say about God?
Rather than encouraging us to identify the weeds, the parable reveals something about the character of God.
The farmer's unexpected patience reflects God's own patience with the world. He sees what we cannot see and refuses to rush to judgement.
His desire is always to preserve life, allowing time for repentance, growth, and grace. God's Kingdom often grows quietly, patently, and almost unnoticed, yet it is no less real for that.
