Let God Finish the Story

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever wished God would immediately remove everything that is bad from the world? Every injustice, every sinner, every failure, every temptation? In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. The servants want to pull out the weeds right away, but the master says, “No, let both grow together until the harvest.” That answer surprises us. Why would God allow weeds to remain? Because He sees what we cannot see. Pulling out the weeds too early could also uproot the wheat. God is patient because His goal is not simply to remove evil; His goal is to save people. That is why Jesus explains that the harvest will come at the end of time, when justice and mercy will both be perfectly fulfilled.

This parable is not only about the world; it is also about our hearts. Every one of us has wheat and weeds growing within us. We have moments of faith, generosity, and kindness, but we also struggle with pride, anger, selfishness, or fear. The good news is that God does not give up on us because of our weaknesses. He patiently works in us every day through His grace. The Church calls this our journey of sanctification – a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. God is more patient with us than we are with ourselves. He knows what we can become if we allow Him to keep working.

So what should we do while we wait for the harvest? First, trust God’s timing. We often want quick answers and instant change, but God works differently. He forms saints slowly. Think about Peter. He failed Jesus three times, yet Jesus did not throw him away. Instead, He transformed him into the rock of the Church. If God has not given up on you, do not give up on yourself or on someone else.

Second, keep growing in goodness instead of focusing on the weeds. Sometimes we spend so much time complaining about the darkness around us that we forget to become light ourselves. Jesus never called us to count the weeds; He called us to bear fruit. Every prayer, every act of forgiveness, every sacrifice, every hidden act of love helps the wheat grow stronger. Holiness is not achieved by worrying about evil; it is achieved by remaining close to Christ.

Third, live with hope because God will have the final word. The Gospel reminds us that there will be a harvest. Evil does not win forever. Suffering does not last forever. Sin does not have the final say. Jesus does. That hope gives us courage to keep loving, serving, and believing even when the world seems confusing. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus says, “The righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” That is your destiny. God did not create you to become a weed; He created you to become a saint.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience with me. When I become discouraged by the weeds in my life or in the world, remind me that You are still working. Help me to trust Your timing, to keep growing in holiness, and to live with hope each day. May I become good wheat that bears fruit for Your Kingdom, until the day You gather me into Your heavenly harvest. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko