Jesus’ discourse on the Kingdom of God by way of parables continues this Sunday. First of all we have the parable of the good grain and the weeds (cf. Mt 13:24-30), then that of the mustard seed (cf. Mt 13:31-32) and finally that of leaven (cf. Mt 13.33). The famous parable of the weeds (darnel) is Matthew’s own. It’s interesting to remember that the term «tares» (zunim, in Greek zizanion) is of Semitic origin and derives from the verb zanah which means “to prostitute oneself”. The tares are bastard wheat. As is well known, lolium temulentum (scientific name) is very similar in its initial stage to wheat, which it is possible to distinguish only after growth. But at this point it is impossible to eradicate it because its roots are intertwined with those of the wheat. It is therefore necessary for the master of the field to wait patiently for the harvest. What is the meaning of this parable? They are multiple. First of all it is Matthew’s community that is called into question. In his community there was a tension between those who wanted a pure Church, and those who, under persecutions, had denied the faith they had embraced. For the first, those few who had failed must be expelled. Matthew, who correctly interprets the thought of the Master, affirms first of all an incontrovertible truth: the Christian community will be, to the end, made up of good wheat and tares or of consistent Christians and sinners. Paradoxically we need to let these two realities grow; it is God’s job eradicate the evil and make the good grow more and more. In a word, the judgment is up to God. But wheat and tares, as experience teaches us, are also present in the heart of every man. Sometimes it is a painful observation, which almost leaves us incredulous. What can we do? We must not fall into the error of perfectionism, trying to
remove all the evil that lives in us. On the other hand, we can’t leave the tares grow too much. But what then? We must learn to trust the ground of our heart to the Lord. He alone, who knows us deeply, knows how to heal all our wounds.

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Santa Maria – Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey