July 23rd

Dear Friends, 

This week’s Gospel continues with the agricultural theme that Jesus introduced last week. Whereas last week he used the sowing of seeds to the spreading of the faith, this week he talks about the weeds and the wheat. Making an interesting and important point, he talks about how one needs to be careful about being overzealous with our weeding efforts, lest we pull up the good plants along with the weeds. Instead, he says, we often need to let the weeds and wheat grow together, and then worry about the sorting come harvest time. The application for our own lives can be discerned- both with the “weeds” and “wheat” growing in our soul (vice and virtue), and the “weeds” and “wheat” (the evil and the good) in society. That said, we can’t look at this passage in isolation. In the context of Jesus’ other teachings, it is clear that Jesus is not saying we shouldn’t work to root out sin and evil… from our own hearts, and from society. Of course we should! But He acknowledges that we’ll never manage to create a perfectly “pure” garden in this world- our hearts will always experience some sin and conflict, and our society will never be perfect. So we do what we can… 
 
Speaking of doing what we can: we are in need of a generous parishioner willing to take on the ministry of washing and ironing the altar linens (mostly the purificators, which are the cloths for wiping the chalice) for our Saint Gabriel site. Be advised- pesky stains from the wine can try one’s patience. 😊 There are a few special processes involved due to the sacred nature of the task. I think it would involve three or four hours every three or four weeks, although this might increase a bit in the Fall after we re-introduce offering the Blood of Christ to the congregation at Mass. If you’re interested, please let me know. 
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May your week reflect the encounter with Christ 
we experienced at Mass today!