We can all relate to Jonah at times. We want people to get what is coming to them, good or bad- mostly bad- especially if they have hurt us. In this case, Jonah wanted Nineveh to die for the ill-treatment of his people. We’re told in Scripture that “Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh.” (Jonah 4:1)

God didn’t exact their much-needed punishment because Nineveh had made an instant 180-degree turn on the first day Jonah reluctantly began warning them. Wow, a radical conversion. Imagine if some so-called prophet started in New York and walked but a single day shouting, “Forty days more and the United States is toast!” How might New Yorkers react? Would any media outlet even pick up the story except for giggles? 

“Forty days more and the United States is toast!”

As humans, we want the people who have hurt us, made our lives miserable, or personally wronged us to get what is coming to them. We prefer to be there when it happens, sitting front and center for “payback time.” Maybe we want to see them suffer, wriggle, and squirm to understand how it feels when what goes around comes back full circle. As Christians, we can only hope a little trial by fire is an excellent catalyst for conversion. 

That’s a neat little revenge package, but it rarely works out that way and contradicts what Christ asks of us.

When Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matt 13:24-30), it again stumps us. What is all this business of letting the weeds grow along with the wheat? What purpose could that serve? Don’t you risk the weeds influencing the wheat negatively or even choking it out? 

It’s easy to want to give up when we’re dragged along a colorful weed parade heading straight to hell shouting, “Jesus, get the weed whacker! It’s trimming time!” 

The opposite might be the very reason Jesus says to let them grow together.

What?

I know your ways are far above my ways, Lord, but it’s hard, really hard, to love my neighbor when they tell me to keep my Christian mouth shut, call me a hater or homophobe, and cancel me for speaking truth…I could go on, but I won’t.

Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable gift of God’s brilliant imagination, living and breathing and trying our best with what we’ve got. Catholic Christians have been given an immense and beautiful treasure in our faith in Christ Jesus. If you will, this light of truth is attractive when lit and lived out in love. When we let Christ’s light shine through us, He can draw all things to Himself, including folks acting pretty “weedy.” God doesn’t write off any of us. He doesn’t give up on any of us. He doesn’t stop inviting us to throw off what makes us look like a weed.

Our Lord is teaching us, by his words and example, not to collapse in the face of evil, but, rather, to resist evil while resisting the temptation to hate the evildoer.

Fr Robert McTeigue, SJ

Do we trust his methods or want a quick weed-whacking party? Because I’ll tell you this, sometimes I do, and it is wrong. What is easy is not always what is right.

In God’s mercy and infinite patience, He longs for our conversion and is willing to wait for it. 

“Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked—oracle of the Lord GOD? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” (Ez 18:23)

So, what are we to do with all the so-called weeds? Be the best stalk of wheat we can. Stand tall and let the light of the Son fill and strengthen us. Don’t let the winds of despair and negativity beat us down. The enemy doesn’t want to win; he wants us to lose our peace. We change the field by cultivating more wheat. All that is required is to be ourselves and let God work through us. It will be extremely exhausting and challenging but entrust the heavy lifting to God. He gives us all the grace and strength necessary to fight the good fight. Be the best little you possible. It will all be worth it one day in heaven.

“I tell you, in just the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Lk 15:7)