The Message, July 23, 2023: "Wheat and Weeds," Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
July 25, 2023

 

“Wheat and Weeds”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

            The lovely arrangement of flowers on the altar table was given by the Guptill Family in loving memory of Robert Guptill, Sr.

            The other arrangement was created by ME!

            Those of you that have been members of this church family for a while will likely remember that four years ago at this time, a wonderful group of volunteers labored every day in ninety-degree heat to prepare the parsonage for Renee and me. You cleaned, painted, and repaired nearly everything in the house. Then you stocked the cabinets and refrigerator with food for us. In addition, some of you green-thumbed people also cleaned and weeded the gardens that surround the house. Everything was beautiful. And did I mention that it was ninety-plus degrees for the duration of the work? Thank you!

            We moved into the house in August and after a couple of pages turned on the calendar, autumn settled in. The gardens around the house went to bed for the winter. When spring came, the shoots began to pop their heads up through the soil and I realized that I had no idea what was planted in the gardens. I had not asked, and I had not made any notes. So, each little green shoot that poked their heads up was a complete mystery to me. I had to let them all grow in order to find out what they were.

            But even then, I was not sure. I am far from a gardening expert. I can tell the difference between a daffodil and a blade of grass. I can tell the difference between an iris and a dandelion. Beyond that I get over my head pretty quickly. I thought, “Well, I will just let EVERYTHING grow and then figure it out later.”

            Let me say that weeding is not at the top of my list of “Favorite Chores.” So, let me start there. But also, as they grew, I realized that some of the “weeds” are really pretty. And some of the “weeds” are beneficial. Clover and wildflowers are important for the pollinators. Milkweeds are an important resource for butterflies. I let them stay.

            That is part of the message of Jesus’ parable this morning. It is NOT justifying being lazy about weeding because you just do not like that job. Rather, it is about two things … patience and judgment.

            Now, when I was in my preaching class in seminary, we used to joke that the traditional sermon has three points and a poem, or three points and a good story. Obviously, Jesus did not take Eddie O’Neal’s homiletics course at Andover Newton Theological School. He employed two points based upon a familiar illustration from the lives of his listeners.

            Let us begin with the illustration. In ancient Palestine, the average farmer would have known precisely what “weed” Jesus was talking about. There was a particular weed that was very common in the wheat fields of the day … the bearded darnel.

            The trouble with the bearded darnel is that in its early stages of development, it looks exactly the same as the shoots of wheat. It is impossible to distinguish one from the other. But, even if you could, their roots are intertwined with one another so the over-eager farmer would destroy his wheat trying to rip out the darnel.

            Of course, the situation does not really get any easier as the darnel grows. As it turns out, the seeds of the darnel are almost indistinguishable from the grains of wheat. Almost. There was a very special and important job during the harvest. Some very skilled laborers would sift through the grain and remove the darnel. (And it should be noted that most of those very skilled laborers were the women of the village.)

            First point … be patient. God works at God’s pace. God’s vision for the world is a long view. It unfolds in God’s timing. We cannot rush God.

            The issue that Jesus was addressing in his first point was that some of the disciples were in a rush. They did not want to wait. They wanted to go ahead and start ripping out the bad “weeds” … the evil “weeds.”

            There is some speculation that there were those among the early followers of Jesus that desired to create a “pure” community. Just as the Pharisees had done before them, they wanted strict adherence to the Way of Jesus. Just as the Essenes had done, they wanted an exclusive community that included only those most faithful.

            But Jesus would not have any of that. “Hold on. Slow down. You ‘farmers’ do not yet know what is growing in your fields.”

            Which brings us to Jesus’ second point … judgment.

            “You may not know what is growing in your field, and even if you do, it is not your place to separate one from the other.” The same criticism that Jesus leveled against the Pharisees, he now directs at some of his own followers. “How do you determine which ones are ‘weeds’?”

            How does one tell which one among them is the “weed”?

            Is it the one that wears shorts and sandals to worship?
            Is it the one with the piercings or tattoos?
            Is it the one who misses worship because they have to work to support their family?
            Is it the one that does not stand up for the hymns? Or cannot find their way around the Bible?

            Who gets to decide which one is the weed?

            The other day I was speaking with one of the sign holders for the water main construction project that has been going on outside the church. He fell in love with music when he was six years old. He sang in performance choirs all through school. He is a baritone but prefers to sing bass. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University. He sings with the church choir in Portland. And he is homeless. He lives in a tent behind the State Street bank.

            Is he a weed? Some might think so.

            I have had church members make the following statements:

            “I cannot believe that he (one of our youth) smiled and laughed while he was being baptized!” (Why would he not laugh? This is a joyous occasion!)

            “I cannot believe that those parents bring their children to church in their soccer uniforms!” (I am just glad that they were able to be here for worship!)

            At my very first church … “Scott, we love you, but your wardrobe!” (I would be happy to join you on a shopping trip if you would like to buy me some new clothes.)

            And directed at a family with a fidgety child: “Can’t you keep that kid quiet?!”

            We are all created in God’s image. Every human being is designed to be a “God Reflector.” Humanity reflects the wonderful, beautiful diversity of God. Our diversity reflects the many facets of God’s glory.

            But there are those who try to make God uni-facted. They try to create a one-dimensional, singular manifestation of God. And, as one might expect, that one image, that one manifestation, of God very closely resembles what they just happen to look like, talk like, think like, and worship like.

            When I was contemplating the message for this morning, I considered only using the opening verses of the passage and leaving out the part about the fiery furnace. But obviously I changed my mind.

            There are many folks who sit in the pews of Christian churches that love the fire and the furnace. They love the thought that the people that they “hate” will be burned up in those fires of judgment. And there are plenty of people in this world who will try to tell God who should be on the list of “weeds” who ought to be tossed into that furnace. They will offer God their “suggestions” about who should be on the “condemned” list.

            Won’t they be surprised when God starts carrying them toward the furnace! “Judge not, lest you be judged!” (Matthew 7:1)

            Most scholars agree that the “field” in the parable refers to the entire world … all of humanity. And what Jesus is saying is that there are going to be those who are “bad seeds” that grow up among the wheat, but it is not up to us to judge. It is not up to us to determine who gets thrown into the furnace. That is God’s role, and that is where God’s grace enters in. It turns out that God is much more forgiving than humans are.

            Remember the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Even those who come to work at the very end of the day receive their full reward from the vineyard keeper.

            We do not get to determine the timetable for proper “germination” of the seed. We do not get to decide how long it takes someone to grow in their faith. We do not get to determination whether or not someone qualifies for God’s favor. That is for God and God alone.

            As the followers of Jesus Christ, we tend the fields. We care for the soil, we plant the seed, water and nurture the plants as they grow and mature. We provide every opportunity for seedlings … whoever they may be … to know and experience the love of God. We welcome them all as God’s precious and beloved children, recognizing that we are not the sole reflection of the beautiful image of God.

            Our bouquet is beautiful … just as God intended it to be. Amen.

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