Evil already existed in Paradise. But it may live even in the heart of the Church and the most sacred of works!
Newsdesk (July 12, 2021 10:20, Gaudium Press) The sower went out to sow his seed” (Lk 8:5). The field is us, these hearts where the hand of God lovingly sows the seed of grace in the hope of seeing virtue bear fruit in them in an abundance of good works.
However, these hearts receive these seeds in very different ways: some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold. (cf. Lk 8:5-8).
Furthermore, Jesus explains to us that the Divine Farmer is not alone in working in the field. Many others are sowing along with Him: some, the true wheat, and others, the weeds.
Thus, both are sown together, grow together, and are even harvested together… but, in a fraction of an instant, they are suddenly separated: the weeds are burned and the wheat is gathered (cf. Mt 13:24-30).
Why? Because God loves virtue and hates iniquity (cf. Heb 1:9), “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous.” (Ps 124:3).
When will the harvest be? At the moment when mankind least expects it, for “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (I Thess 5:2); when they, in their arrogance, think they can lift their arms against God with impunity, “then sudden destruction will come upon them” (I Thess 5:3).
An instant will suffice for this, for Satan fell from Heaven “like lightning” (Lk 10:18); so also “let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away.” (Lk 17:31).
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
Who will operate the harvest and the subsequent separation? God Himself, all-powerful, who, although He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45), rewards the good and punishes the wicked (cf. Mt 25:46), and will separate some from others by the ministry of His Holy Angels (cf. Mt 13:49).
This is why the Divine Master, who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6), affirms that he has not come to bring peace, but division (cf. Lk 12:51), so that “there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.” (Lk 12:52).
Finally, how will the tares be separated from the wheat? By presenting the Truth. Indeed, it clarifies, reveals and divides; it unites, strengthens and saves the good, but unmasks, confuses and dissipates the evil. Truth is like light: Evil cannot resist it, just as darkness cannot overcome clarity: the Absolute defines, and God judges. Eternal destiny is decided according to the option that each one makes before the Truth.
This explains persecutions, martyrdom and beatitudes, for “so persecuted the prophets” (Mt 5:12), and “if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (Jn 15:20). In this way, by persecuting God in their children, they fulfill ” the prophets which are read every sabbath” (Acts 13:27), often without even being aware of it. Therefore, God’s victory is a matter of time, and soon!
It is essential to remain in Him so that “we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)
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All biblical quotes are taken from the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj