Memorial of St John Vianney, Priest

Our gospel brings us back to the parable of the weeds that were sown with the grass. This time Jesus is clearly identifying weeds with the Pharisees.

And he says let them alone.

 

And that must have been difficult for them. It is human nature to want to remove what is not needed or what is wrong or broken in our world.

 

We fix broken parts of our homes. We get repairs done for our cars. If our employees include those who are not doing well or out of sync with others we strive to correct or remove them.

 

Even our own work

performance we review for what needs to improve. It’s in our DNA and nature to act this way and culturally it is a top priority to only allow for whole and correct actions to be tolerated.

 

But Jesus thinks as God thinks, and his ways are Gods ways. He knows there is benefit for all, by leaving the weeds or unwanted alone.

 

We may not understand this, but we must see and consider the approach if we are disciples of Christ.

 

We too need to focus less on those we may think are blind and lost. And focus our attention and life on doing the will of God. Perhaps our actions and words can change hearts of those who are lost. Perhaps seeing their failings might help us realize our own blindness and illuminate those things in our hearts we need to focus on more.

 

There will always be lost and blind people around us who do not see the truth. Even neighbors. Even family. We are to live among them and be Christ for them.

 

 

 

Gospel

 

2^nd Option

Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.”
He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.
It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man;
but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”
Then his disciples approached and said to him,
“Do you know that the Pharisees took offense
when they heard what you said?”
He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted
will be uprooted.
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.
If a blind man leads a blind man,
both will fall into a pit.”