One of the big struggles often faced by people of faith is the problem of injustice in the world. If God is all-loving and all powerful, then why does he permit evil? Why does he allow bad things to happen to good people? It is especially frustrating when we see people who seem to be getting away with doing evil, when we are trying to do what is right.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s timing is different from our own. While we would like to see injustice rooted out as quickly as possible, God recognizes that sometimes, doing so will cause more harm than good. God asks us to be patient, and to trust that in the fullness of time, his justice will be realized, as he separates the weeds from the wheat, and the weeds are cast into the fire.
This parable, however, is about more than just waiting for God’s justice to smite out our enemies. It is also a powerful reminder to us of God’s mercy. In commenting on this passage, Edward Morse, a Professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, writes that “A world in which smiting quickly followed sin would result in many being smitten but few coming to know God’s love and abundant mercy that gives us so much more than we deserve.” As we live our lives, ” We come to realize that divine forbearance in our lives gave time for mercy to work with us while we were still sinning. We were granted time to come to our senses, to comprehend the reality of our sinfulness and its hurt to others and even to ourselves. Repentance comes from this comprehension, in which we seek our Heavenly Father who has the mercy that we need.”
Even in the face of injustice, we remember God’s mercy, and God’s own desire that all people would turn to him and be saved. Our hope is always that even those who perpetuate injustice will be converted to God and be saved. Although it may not happen according to God’s time, and not to ours, we trust that God is at work, even in the painful moments of our lives. As Saint Paul says in our Second reading, we can take comfort in knowing that when words fail us in the face of injustice, the Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf, and allows God to hear the deepest longings of our hearts. Can we trust that in these times, we are not abandoned, but deeply loved by God?
This week, I pray that we can all be mindful of God’s great mercy, as we work to bring about greater justice in our communities and in our world.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB