Do you know what fishermen do when they catch those kinds of things? They throw them back in the water and keep looking. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that heaven is kind of the same way. Just like fishermen have to decide what's worth keeping and what to throw back, Jesus explains that God is looking for "keepers."
People can be weeds. Sometimes they can be doing the wrong things in our lives - our "gardens." They set bad examples and make it just that much harder to for us to do the right things. That's why being a Christian can be so hard. It's something we have to do even when so many people around us seems to be setting the wrong examples - and pulling us in the wrong direction. Are you a seed or a weed? (A seed) Good - keep it up!
As Christians we especially want others to feel accepted and welcome. Jesus tells us in the Bible that "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me" (10:40).
In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us an important lesson - sort of like the one my mother taught me. He tells us about how important it can be to do even things that seem very small - like giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. Hey, I can do that! I may not be able to do some things, but I can look for someone who needs a little help and lend a hand, right? And so can you!
Jesus talks about that very thing in the Bible. He says, "...it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." The word defile means dirty or unclean. Jesus cautions us to be aware of what we say. Words are powerful and can hurt. Words that are not true can damage a reputation. That kind of injury cannot be covered over with a band-aid. Let's remember to keep our words clean and true.
Jesus said, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man" (13:37). Jesus uses the story of seeds to teach us that he is the one from whom love comes. When we receive God's love we are like "good seeds" which grow and produce more love that we can share with others, even those who live in distant lands.
Jesus says, "but the very hairs of your head are all numbered." This is written in the Bible to let you know how special you are. Think about the miracle of your wonderful body. Remember that you are created in great detail and with much care and love.
Weeds seem to grow everywhere. They can grow so tall and thick that they block sunshine from flowers and vegetables. They also take nourishment and water that other plants need. If left unattended weeds can damage the plants in our gardens. In the Bible Jesus tells a story about weeds being sown in a field that had been planted with wheat - good seeds. He compares the wheat to the people who want to do God's will and the weeds to people who do bad, evil things.
It is quite extraordinary to think that God, the Father, knows you so well that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." We are encouraged not to worry or be afraid, but to trust that God knows how we feel and knows what is best for each one of us.
There is a place in the Hebrew Scriptures that says if one man hits another man and that man loses a tooth, his tribe can take a tooth from the man that did the hitting. But Jesus tells his disciples that they can do a lot better than the one tooth law.