The Gospel for today is what some call the “weeds in the field” Gospel. I have worked in agriculture for most of my career, so I appreciate the parable. However, what strikes me from the reading is the need for Fortitude, one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit that we receive at Confirmation. We define fortitude as strength of mind, allowing a person to meet danger head-on, or bear pain or hardships with courage.
Fortitude
As regular readers know, I am a volunteer Confirmation teacher. The kids need to learn about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit that are bestowed on them on Confirmation Day. We try to memorize all seven and reflect on which one or ones we need help with, so we can pay special attention to how we might benefit. So you can try at home, here are the 7 first letters of the Gifts, and see if you can remember them all…. FFWPUCK. Fortitude is one of them, and that is my focus today.
In the Gospel, the Lord explains that good seeds and bad seeds (weeds) are planted in the same field. They are allowed to grow together, and benefit from the moisture and nutrition in the soil all season. However, at harvest time, the good plants are separated from the weeds, and the good plants are celebrated and cherished while the weeds are burned. Sometimes we can identify with the weeds, and sometimes good plants. We probably wonder why the weeds are allowed the same benefits as good seeds, when they will just be burned anyway, and just take away nutrients and moisture that could be used to produce good crops. When we feel like weeds, we are glad we are not destroyed right away! Weeds reduce the production yield of the acreage, so it is a waste of resources to produce weeds, right?
Uncertainty
We need fortitude to make it until harvest time, so we can navigate the uncertainty of the season, which is our lives. There are dark clouds ahead that might mean danger, but also can bring needed rain. We need the baking sun and heat for growth, but it can burn us. We need darkness to complete the growth cycle, but nighttime is scary sometimes and can be cold.
Behind the scenes of all this uncertainty is the certainty that God is in charge. He will decide when we are ripe for harvest. He will decide when we need rain, preceded by dark clouds. He will decide how much we need to bake, and how much we need to cool off. It is up to us to trust, allow the Holy Spirit to enhance our fortitude, and let God’s will be done. Fortitude, my friends, fortitude!
[Readings for Tuesday, Week 17: Jeremiah 14:17-22; Matthew 13:36-43]
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There is a rather easy way to remember all those letters in the form of a drawing of the crucifix as follows:
Wisdom – at the top of the vertical bar of the crucifix where INRI normally is. Wisdom is generally considered the highest gift or the culmination of the other six.
“Council, Understanding, Piety” over the horizontal bar of the crucifix from left to right. Notice they spell “CUP” as in chalice.
Back to the vertical bar place a “K” below the intersection of the horizontal and vertical spars for Knowledge. Note that all “CUP” blessings rest on Knowledge.
Finally place both “F’s” (Fear of the Lord & Fortitude) at the foot of the cross to serve as the base for the crucifix.
I hope this word picture helps.