God’s final judgement of separation

Readings: 1^st: Jer 14:17-22; Ps 78; Gos: Mt 13:36-43

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico, the island of enchantment. He is the Chancellor of the Dioceses of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico; the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. For more details and comments contact him at:  canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today, Tuesday of the seventeenth week of ordinary time, Christ explained the parable of the wheat and the weed.

At the heart of this parable there are two clear points. These are: The final judgement and the kingdom of God; and the battle of good against evil.

In this parable, there is also something very interesting about the most important element or the metaphor that Christ used to represent “the children of the kingdom.” He qualified the seed with the adjective, “good.”

This simply means that “ab initio”, the seed was of a very good quality. It was carefully selected for the purpose of the sower.

Furthermore, this means that it was viable and potent, and that whatever plant that it produces, will be strong to compete and survive.

Indeed, what makes the children of the kingdom good is the quality of life they possess. That is, their ability to resist the evil that constantly lurks around them, and threatens their existence.

The children of the kingdom exhibit superior qualities that help them to survive the harshest condition and competition in a world full of all manners of dangers and evils.

These qualities are the Christian virtues that we must all make effort to live, if we must survive the threat of the evil one on our journey to God’s Kingdom.

So, it is not surprising that, knowing the quality of the seeds he planted, that the sower decided to allow them grow together with the weeds.

Would God create two separate worlds? One for the saints and another for the sinners? Definitely, not in this present world!

So, there will always be a constant battle between good and evil in this world. What will sustain us in this battle until God’s final judgement of separation is the strength and quality of our Christian character and virtues.

If we survive, we shall be graciously admitted into the everlasting kingdom of God. Whereas the weed, and the corruption of this world, the works of the evil one will be uprooted and banished forever.

So, while we wait for God’s judgement of separation, let ask him to keep us strong and firm in our constant battle against evil in our world, so that triumphant, we may be admitted into his kingdom, where Christ reigns forever.

Peace be with you

Maranatha!