Sunday Reflection: In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples with the parable of the weeds among the wheat and then, very clearly, explains exactly what he means by it. There is no need for us to guess what Jesus is talking about here, nor is there any way to soften his message or avoid the harsh judgment it contains. At the end of days, those who find themselves numbered among the weeds will be thrown into “the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus is speaking in cosmic terms about God’s purposes and the very real presence of evil in the world. It is the “enemy” who plants the weeds among the wheat. For a time, the good wheat and the evil weeds will live and thrive together in this world, until the coming of God’s reign.
We may not be comfortable with judgmental parables like this one, but Jesus has an important lesson for us here about how to make choices in our lives. The seeds are sown either by Jesus or by the devil. The difference between them is their point of origin, out of whose hand they are planted. We may want to check our motivations to be certain about who plants us in the world and exactly what we are growing into. Jesus is urging us to join the company of “good seeds,” the children of the kingdom, to help to build God’s kingdom and make it fruitful.
In our work to build the kingdom of God, how might some of the seeds we sow become wheat and others weeds? Meredith Ward, Sermons that Work

Rector’s Note: On behalf of St. Michael’s church, we would like to welcome The Venerable Al Carson, Archdeacon of Lougheed and Rector of St. John’s Anglican Church, Sardis. Archdeacon Carson is preaching today to signal the shared ministry of St. Michael and Christ the Redeemer. Thank you for taking the time to be with us today.
Again readers or prayer leader during worship are allowed to bring your personal Bible in the church. You can also use your electronic gadget to perform these ministries. Should you have any questions, please let me know. The Venerable Louie Engnan, Vicar.