The Evil All Around Us

July 23, 2022 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious—Optional Memorial

Video “Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”  Matthew 13:30  The evil all around us should be apparent to those with the eyes of faith.  We only need to compare all that our Lord has revealed to us through the Scripture and the Church to the various values and opinions of the world.  When we do so, we will be struck with the stark contrast between them. Using the image of this parable, it would be like the farmer who goes out to check on his crop of wheat.  As he does, he sees the weeds intermingled with the wheat.  Though he sees both growing together, he is also aware of the fact that he cannot eliminate the weeds without pulling up the wheat.  So instead of worrying about the growth of weeds, he puts his eyes on harvest time when the wheat will be harvested for good and the weeds will be gathered and burned. So it must be with our lives.  We will easily be tempted to despair if we become fixated upon the evil within our world.  We shouldn’t ignore it, but we ought not to become overly concerned about it.  This is only possible if we, like the farmer, keep our eyes upon “harvest time.”  The great harvest we anticipate is the moment of divine justice when God rights every wrong and sorts out the good from the bad.  Justice will prevail in the end even though it may not be readily apparent here and now. Reflect, today, upon any ways that you find yourself affected by the evils of our world.  Perhaps the constant stream of bad news in the media gets you down.  Or, perhaps you encounter various evils in your daily life from others.  Whatever the case may be, do not be shocked or scandalized by the attacks of the evil one.  Keep your eyes fixed on our Lord and have full confidence in His divine justice to come. Lord of all justice, I trust in Your promise of fidelity in all things.  As I see and experience various evils in this world, help me to never fall into their trap or lure.  Free me from doubt and despair and give me perfect hope in Your promise of justice and mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.