Gospel in Art: Let both darnel and wheat grow till the harvest

Darnel - Lolium Temulentum, illustration from Medical Botany, by John Stephenson and James Morss-Churchill, published by John Stephenson (1790-1864)

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 July 2024
Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus put another parable before the crowds: 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner's servants went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?" "Some enemy has done this" he answered. And the servants said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn."'

Reflection on the Botanical Print

Sometimes, exploring a bit of botany can enhance our understanding of parables. This illustration from an 1836 medical botany book shows darnel. It closely resembles wheat. The difference between the two becomes apparent only as the plants mature. When fully grown, the ears of wheat are heavy and droop, while the ears of darnel stand upright because they are lighter.

Distinguishing darnel from wheat during the early stages of growth is nearly impossible. Jesus teaches us that weeds can only be separated from wheat at the proper time-harvest time. Similarly, when we grow we may at times display characteristics of wheat, but sometimes of darnel. We thus have a choice every day, every moment, to do right or wrong, to nurture ourselves to become proper wheat. God does not condemn us by uprooting us like weeds for our mistakes. Instead, he lest us grow, forgives us, allows us to do more growing, in hope we will turn out who God intended us to be.

As individual disciples we will indeed remain a mixture of light and shade until we are fully conformed to the image of God's Son in the next life. We are all the time trying to grow more fully into conformity to Christ. Yet we have to accept that, this side of eternity, sin will always be part of our lives. Like the farmer in the parable, the Lord is patient with us. We need to be patient with ourselves and with each other. This is not complacency; it is simply the realistic recognition that we are all a work in progress.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-13-24-30-2024/