Our Transparent God

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~~Wisdom 12:13, 16-19~~~Psalm 86~~~Romans 8:26-27~~~
~~~Matthew 13:24-43~~~

Those who wish to spread evil 

often do it under the cloak of darkness, with covered faces, 

pretending to be anonymous...as if they did not exist.

Cyber crimes and stolen identities are increasing every day it seems.

While everyone was asleep his enemy came

and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 

Today we hear much about transparency.

Unfortunately transparency is becoming more and more difficult to define.

I routinely used transparencies during my teaching career.

Making it very easy to share information with the whole class.

They are even available in different colors.

God rules, governs, justifies, forgives,
and loves with complete transparency.
There is no ulterior motive when it comes to God.
The flip side of this might be that there
is only one ulterior motive with God, love.

Many good people today echo Paul's letter to the Romans.
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,

but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 

And the one who searches hearts

knows what is the intention of the Spirit,

because he intercedes for the holy ones

according to God’s will.

I find myself in a quandary as to how to pray for the current violence

 in the Middle East and in the Ukraine.

It is best to leave the exact words to wisdom of the Spirit.
The Spirit alone can bring goodness and forgiveness.

Someone sowed weeds among the farmer's crops,
but we know in our world today the 'weeds' are among us.
Sometimes we ourselves may even be considered to be weeds;
as our Christian values are challenged.
The parable says Jesus allowed the weeds to grow along side of the crops.

In reality we all have a few of those weeds growing within our hearts.
They are the weeds of prejudice and hatred.
The weeds of our own individual sins.

In nature we sometimes enjoy the weeds
as much as those cultivated crops.
The so called weeds blossom in the Springtime
 dosing the hillsides with color.

It is time to place our complete trust in the Lord.
It is time for us to admit that we do not pray as we should.

It is time to let the Spirit take control.

Seek the Grace and Blessings to surrender all to God.

Allow God, the great harvester, to separate
 the weeds from our own hearts.

May his Peace Reign
 in our hearts.