Click here to listen to the audio of this 22-minute message. Or watch the YouTube video below, or read the introductory text message after that.
Today’s message is from Matthew 13: 24-30, in which Jesus tells the parable of the weeds. It is followed, later in the chapter, by Jesus’ explanation of the parable (Matthew 13: 36-43). Preachers are generally expected to ‘have all the answers’ when they preach the Word of God, but in truth, preachers are just people like all other people.
The passage set for today is – for me – an exceptionally difficult passage, because (a) Jesus’ message seems to contradict his own consistent message through word and action and (b) Jesus appears to be telling us to do nothing about evil in our midst, but rather to leave it until the end of the age, the Day of judgement. If we were to live according to this passage, we would have allowed evil to flourish over the past 2000+ years since Jesus preached this message.
So what are we do with a message that seems fundamentally wrong. Was Jesus mistaken?
I encourage you listen to the audio recording or watch the video to see my grappling with the message and how I try to make sense of it. Evil in the world – and evil in our midst (our family, community, workplace, church, etc.) – is a serious matter and warrants our critical engagement and reflection.
Reflections of God's Love 
Dear Fr. Adrian, In spite of your initial grappling with the parable of the weeds, I feel that your conclusion, effectively, dispelled your first admitted cloud of doubt.
In general, we all know the difference between right and wrong, sin and virtue but struggle to remain constantly virtuous. I think that at the end of the parable when Jesus indicates that the angels will preform the act of separation, the flame that He is drawing us to is that to perform such a separation, there must be something to separate…….so if we take heart from this indication and strive to follow in His footsteps, notwithstanding the sea of weeds that besets us, we can survive evil by keeping the Faith and striving to be and to do, good.
Thank you for your deep insight and causing reflection to take place.
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Brilliant explanation, thanks for sharing
On Sun, 19 Jul 2020, 9:18 am Reflections of God’s Love wrote:
> Adrian van Breda posted: “Click here to listen to the audio of this > 22-minute message. Or watch the YouTube video below, or read the > introductory text message after that. Today’s message is from Matthew 13: > 24-30, in which Jesus tells the parable of the weeds. It is followed, l” >
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Thank you Adrian. I loved the way you began – humbly before this difficult passage. I think I tried hard not to preach on this one. The result was very rewarding. I’m grateful to you for your inspiring thoughts.
Love, Michael
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Thank you, dear Adrian
Tomorrow I shall indulge in your message.
XxXx
Gen
On Sun, Jul 19, 2020 at 9:18 AM Reflections of God’s Love wrote:
> Adrian van Breda posted: “Click here to listen to the audio of this > 22-minute message. Or watch the YouTube video below, or read the > introductory text message after that. Today’s message is from Matthew 13: > 24-30, in which Jesus tells the parable of the weeds. It is followed, l” >
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