I was drenched in sweat. I had a veil around my face, gardening gloves on my already naturally clammy hands, a pinned-up postulant dress and high socks in the middle of the summer’s heat. My one task: remove the weeds that had taken deep roots on a patch of ground in the backyard. After hours of pulling, digging, sweating, and silence, I was finally finished, and it was so satisfying.

I can fully understand the desire of the servants to simply “go and pull them up” (Matthew 13:28). How bad could it be? We can do this by our own strength and according to our own wisdom, right?

The Lord’s gentle but firm answer in the parable was a “no.” He commanded them to “[l]et them grow together” (Matthew 13:30). Although we may not understand why He doesn’t just uproot the weeds and allow the wheat to grow freely, the Lord has His reasons. He says, “[I]f you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them” (Matthew 13:29). His concern, then, is for you, for me. The Lord is wise, and He does not rush the process.

We must allow the presence of the weeds in our hearts, in the Church, and in the world to be a persistent reminder that we are not yet harvested (Matthew 13:30).

And that means, sister, there is still time.

Time for you and me to change our lives, to be converted, to start again with renewed vigor, to allow the Lord to work the soil in our lives—and through us—plant more seeds, so that there can be more wheat for the final harvest.

If you, like me, are anxious about the state of the world, our Church, or a situation in your life, turn to Him. Be encouraged, sister. The Lord is always at work (John 5:17) even when we cannot see immediate change. We can be confident that He will finish the work that He started (Philippians 1:6). The Lord of the Harvest is untiring.

[bctt tweet="He does not rush the process. // Rocio Hermes" username="blessedisshe__"]

listen to today’s devotion