Fields of Good and Evil: 19 July, 2020

God is present in the midst of our struggles. Yet, there is indeed a presence in the world that seeks to undermine God at every turn. . . There is real opposition—sin, evil, unfaith—in this world, and it often masquerades as good. –– Timothy V. Olson

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The parable of the weeds can be a great comfort some days. . . Jesus told this parable so that we wouldn’t be surprised when not even all our efforts at planting the Gospel wheat in people’s hearts could manage to prevent the weeds of sin from sprouting up big and lush. . . Jesus’ parable reminds us that ministry with and to other humans is going to be a somewhat weedy proposition, at least until the end of days, when the wheat and the weeds will be divided once and for all. Until then, the best we can do is to plant faster than our enemies. . .

These days there are plenty of examples of faithful Christians who want to drag the church away from its roots, or bind it to outdated policies, depending on your particular political and social views. How are we best to tend Christ’s field? How are we to handle these problems and divisions in a Christian way?

Jesus’ parable gives us some clues to this problem as well. When the farmer’s servants want to pluck up the weeds and throw them away, they are told to back off. . . At the time of the harvest, the farmer promises, the wheat and the weeds will be separated.

. . . The wheat and the weeds grow close together in our lives, sometimes too close together to tell apart easily. It’s just the same in our common life together. The day will come when the farmer, who is the Son of Man according to Jesus, will reveal what is truly wheat and what is truly weeds. –– Micah T.J. Jackson

Isaiah 44:6-8

The message of the passage appointed from Isaiah . . . takes the form of a trial where the issue at hand is idolatry. These opening verses are in the form of an interrogation, challenging the people to bring evidence of any other who can be God. It is reminiscent of Elijah’s contest on Mt. Carmel. Following this text, God exposes the impotence of idols fashioned by hands. . . The preacher can easily lift up all the pretender gods of our day and reveal them as false. Money, wealth, power, success, self-sufficiency, and nation are but a few examples of gods that call us to stray from the one true God. –– Timothy V. Olson

Romans 8:12-25

Paul addresses our hope and patience in the midst of suffering and waiting by reminding us that the Spirit is present with us. God is here. When we are weak, the Spirit is strong. When we can’t even pray, the Spirit intercedes. . . It is even by grace that we pray. –– Timothy V. Olson

Timothy V. Olson is the pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ankeny, Iowa.

Micah T.J. Jackson is president of Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago.

Homily Service 38, no. 8 (2005): 25-34.