LATEST HOMILY
16th SUNDAY of EASTER
July 18, 2026

 “Up Rooting the Weeds of the Heart”

Jesus gives us the classical parable of the wheat and the weeds along with the Kingdom of Heaven being compared to the side of a mustard seed. The weeds convey an imagery that can be compared to the spreading of gossip, encaging in idle talk or even causing division in the community. It is absolutely necessary to see weeds in such a practical reality. Weeds naturally choke plants that are meant for the good of human beings. They reduce crop supply and block necessary sunlight for plants that need to bear fruits. It would be natural to pull up the weeds because they are blocking the production of good growth and a bountiful harvest. But Jesus says leave the weeds alone, for they will be uprooted when the harvest is ready. But will we have a harvest if the plants are being choked by the weeds? Will anyone be saved if there are person spreading rumours around the family; will anyone be saved if someone is always causing confusion and division; will anyone be saved if there is someone trying to meddle into the good things someone is doing for the Lord. The answer to that question is, YES!

 Jesus does not believe that once there are weeds in field we panic and pull them up, as he says we may pull up the wheat as well. When we have a bad apple in the bunch the first thing we think to do is throw it out. But remember even rotten fruits can be used as compost to give nutrients to soil. The waiting Jesus talks about in the parable is not waiting for destruction.  His waiting is an act of mercy. Those weeds that are thrown into the fire are those that intentionally rebel and reject the love and the work of God and continue in the demonic endeavours to spread evil and so justice must be served due to their persistent wickedness. But there are weeds that die to themselves. There are weeds that do not wish to harm but rather find a way to be form of good. There are weeds that let go and return nutrients to the soil so God may do His works in His wheat Those weeds are the struggles of the human heart. Now am I changing around the parable? By no means! Rather it is a deeper reflection into the heart of Jesus. There are some hearts that realize God’s patients is far more powerful than one’s wicked persistence and God’s Love is far more lasting than one’s pettiness and bitterness. Human beings usually act as weeds rather than wheat because it is better to take what one is getting rather than asking in prayer. Weeds are the seeds of the devil that are planted in the hearts of all sinners. Satan’s weeds are planted to cause division from within and eventually spread from one person to the next. They fester up wounds and pains of the past and eventually spread it to others, causing the interference of other good virtues Christ has planted. But Christ does not panic nor does he act with abruptness. As the book of Wisdom says: “You are a master of might, you judge with clemency and with much lenience you govern us, for power, whenever you will, attends you.” 

God’s power is patient so he can do the works of love and mercy within us that kill the weeds of the heart. Not only does Christ’s love and mercy destroy the weeds in the heart, it also makes room in the heart for more life to grow. We all have weeds in the heart. We have weeds of pride, sexual immorality, gossip and idle talk, drunkenness, and indifference towards people, laziness and other forms immoral behaviours. On the other hand, God does not rush down with a judgement stick. He gives us the chance to die to self, to die to sin. I know this can be hard for many of us who struggle with repeated sins. We feel ashamed of it and we do not know how to come to God for healing and mercy. But do not be afraid, that is why prayer is there. That is why the Spirit is with us, to assist us in the groaning pains and aches we cannot put in words. We even find it hard at times to say Jesus help me with my sins, help me to kill of the weeds in my heart. We find it shameful and embarrassing. If Jesus was embarrassed by the weeds we have in our hearts, then he would have pulled them up a long time ago, but he waits for us. He waits for us to come to Him. He waits for us so he can prune the soil of the heart and to focus on the things that gives us life. But we must not doubt Him. Trust that he will not pull up what is vital but destroy in our lives what is dark and destructive.

 I will give you this image today. As Christ Jesus is being raised in the Host and Chalice see him uprooted like weed, yet the finest of wheat, for our sake so that you and I may have enough soil to grow the wheats of our heart. That’s not just an image, that’s the reality of how much Jesus loves each and everyone of us. He allows Himself to be uprooted like weed so we can have enough room to grow, so we can have enough room to not only grow wheat but to have a faith so deeply rooted in His love that there is no room for weeds but only space for a plant the size of a mustard tree where all can rest and dwell and find refuge. Weeds may be bad but eventually like good that comes from evil, it dies and returns to the soil so that life may grow more abundantly. 

AMEN.