I have some sympathy with the servants in today’s gospel. Knowing that they have sown good seed in their Masters field they are puzzled and perplexed to find darnel growing amongst the wheat when it begins to sprout and ripen. Their immediate response is to sort the situation out, to under the damage as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
It’s a temptation we all recognise. As soon as something goes wrong in life we want to fix it. Our desire is to stabilise the situation and restore normality, sometimes it even feels like we want to turn the clock back to how things were before they went wrong.
However, when they suggest their quick fix to their master he takes a different view, saying to them:
“No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest time; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: first collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”
His response reminds me of the saying “fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. He suggests a kinder more compassionate approach, allowing things to develop and unfold before taking action. It’s a reminder that, however well-intentioned, a hasty response can sometimes cause more damage than good.
In today’s world when we expect instant responses and instant gratification is it’s especially important to be aware of this. To live by the values of the kingdom we have to accept that it’s rarely possible to easily distinguish good from evil.
It takes discernment to make that call. We have to have the courage and patience to live with uncertainty as we wait for things to unfold or for the full picture to develop.
Where is Christ calling you to pause before acting today?