The key message I understand from this week's readings is the forbearance of God. When we see worldly leaders and dictators they are distinguished by their ruthlessness and greed. By comparison the first reading says of God: "Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose." (Wis 12: 18) The gospel illustrates this with the parable of the tares and the wheat. The landowner instructs his slaves: Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers. Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."(Mtt 13: 20) It is not up to us to judge others, for we do not know the depths of the heart of anybody, including even our own heart. We need to go to reconciliation so that we resist the temptation to be our own judge, jury and executioner. We are simply incapable of perfecting ourselves. Let us use the means that the Church gives us, especially of prayer and examinations of conscience, so that we may be open to the Holy Spirit who will guide us in all our ways for we are assured in the second reading: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs to deep for words." (Rm 8: 26)
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