There’s an old adage that says Patience is a virtue but I want it right now! Patience is one of those things that we all want and need at times, but it can be very elusive. Some people struggle with it all their lives and never quite master it.
One of the things we learn about God in today’s Gospel reading is that He is infinitely patient. He tells the parable about the famer who discovers weeds growing along with his crops. He knows it is the result of the enemy, but He chooses not to pull up the weeds lest he uproot the crops as well. So in His patient way, he decides to wait till the harvest and pull up both crop and weeds at the same time, saving the crops and burning the weeds. That way the goodness of his planting is preserved.
I think Jesus is talking about each of us here as well. He looks upon us and sees all the good that is growing within us in life; yet at the same time He sees that which is not so good. He chooses to be patient with us and to await the harvest of our own lives then He can pull out the weeds of our lives and reap the harvest of goodness and fruition.
When we look around and we see imperfection and even evil in our world we might wonder why God allows that. But if we remember His patience with ourselves we can remember His patience with the world and His promise to gather in all the goodness at the end of time.