Weed Among Wheat

In the parable of the kingdom of heaven from Matthew 13:24-30, “the weed” sown by the enemy among the wheat is sometimes translated as “Tares”.

I just heard an intriguing exposition on this passage.

Tares is a strain of plant that grows in the Middle East. It looks similar to wheat when first sprouting, but as the time passes the difference between the two becomes apparent. Tares grows faster than wheat and it causes vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.

The roots of tares have a tendency to grab onto the roots of the plants around them. So if someone tries to pull out a tares, the surrounding plants will be uprooted with it. Knowing this quirk about the plant helps to understand why the farmer in the parable told his workers to leave them alone until the harvest time.

The point of the exposition was this: Our inclination towards imperfections in our lives is to remove them ASAP. But sometimes God tells us to leave certain flaws in our lives alone for the time being. In these instances we just need to trust that He knows what He’s doing and will take care of both wheat and tares in due time.

On a similar note I came across a blog titled “Hiding Place”, and below is a paragraph from it (translated by me):

“Sometimes trusting the Lord and resting in His presence is the best tactic we can use. In many cases leaving our enemies alone can lead to killing them by starvation. At the same time doing nothing can incite their power and give them an opportunity to strike. Therefore the best course of action is to hide in God, our shelter, and be still. God Himself will help us and protect us.”

By focusing on a few tares, I can lose sight of the field full of good seeds God has planted in my life. Also the gentle Farmer wants to preserve wheat that grows around tares. Injuries, betrayals, heartaches and sicknesses. Good things do grow around those not-so-good things and they often come in an inseparable package.

Ah, but dear Lord my natural instinct at the sight of harm is to fight or flight. This approach of seeming inaction on my part is painfully counterintuitive to me.

So Father, help me not to react out of fear or impatience, but to quietly rest in your presence and know, that You are God.

White Beast

I’m sure we all have had dreams in which we are chased by something or somebody. A recurring “chaser” in my dreams since the childhood is a white beast.

It resembles an oversized wolf but with way more fur and body mass.

When I was younger I hardly ever saw the beast itself in my dreams. Maybe I’d get a glimpse of white fury in a flash or two. But I knew with a certainty that it was after me. Its presence was so palpable I could almost hear its padded footsteps with claws rasping on the ground, and feel the wet and hot breath on my heels. So I run, stumbling, fear gripping my heart. I would wonder how much longer I can keep running.

I haven’t out run the beast.

Within the last couple of years I had maybe 3 encounters with the beast. In those dreams I have captured the full appearance of the beast. It looks just as vicious as it has ever been, but slightly smaller (perhaps because I’m bigger now?). Interestingly I’m less frightened by the actual confrontation with the beast than the image of it chasing me.

The beast is still very much beyond my power to vanquish, though. Last night I was fighting it with a spear. Before I could finish it or it could finish me, I woke up. Even in the dream, I remember, I was in awe for the fact that I’m taking on something (though it didn’t look like I could overpower it) that used to paralyze me by its sheer presence in the distance.

At this rate, perhaps I’d be able to slay the beast in the near future once and for all? Or perhaps it isn’t meant to be defeated by my own strength…

JOY

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

When I saw this verse, I used to assumed the “joy” that was set before Jesus meant the glory of sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This notion had made the verse seems irrelevant to me because frankly, the concept of the reward in heaven is not tangible enough to get me through disappointments and hardships in life.

I recently came across a friend’s blog that ruminated on this verse. A question was posed; “What was the joy like, which compelled Jesus to go so far as to the cross?” and it got me reevaluating my understanding of the verse.

Maybe the joy set before Jesus was not the glory but seeing what the cross was to achieve – salvation of the lost and deliverance of the captive? The glory was a bi-product or the added bonus and not the objective of His suffering…

To me this view is more in line with the image of God, who is love, and it helped my heart to open up to the verse.

There is only so much suffering a person can bear for his or her own sake. Human nature is intrinsically self-centered by the fall, but God seems to have planted in us the ability to disregard a significant amount of pain for the sake of others.

This is where the verse becomes relevant to me. When I witness God bringing healing and restoration in people’s lives, the joy that bursts in my heart is so powerful it blows away all my concerns and pain (at least for a couple hours or so). I don't think it was in my nature to be that moved by other people's affair, so it must be the doing of Christ within. Talk about pure grace. In fact, I think that’s the only thing that can kick my sorry butt out of the gloom I’ve been in for a while now.

Perhaps I’m finally learning not just in my head but also in my heart that I’d actually be a happier person when I live the “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” life. Living for myself, seeking happiness in who-knows-what, ain’t working for me no more.

So I echo the prayer from the Divine Hours below. Well my motivation for wanting to live for God and His kingdom is still fully self-serving, since I want that for my very own delight. But if that will keep me from going down the odious path of self-pity, then hey, that works for me.

Grant that I Lord, may not be anxious about earthly things, but love things heavenly, and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. One God for ever and ever, Amen.