One of the spiritual dangers which I consistently run headlong into is comparing myself to others. I caution people against it in the confessional almost every week, but rarely does a day go by that I do not find myself slipping into the same fault. It is a double-edged sword because there is really no positive outcome to it. Either you seem to be better than someone else, in which case you run the risk of pride, vanity, and complacency, or you seem to be worse, in which case we stray towards despair. Neither one is a helpful path towards true conversion. I found this to be the case about a year ago when Fr. Eric and Fr. Matt were moving in. Before their arrival, I had been working towards being less obsessive about my book obsession and organization as well as the proliferation of whiskey collecting. Then, as soon as they were done unpacking, I was able to excuse my own habits because I will never out-book Fr. Roush, and Fr. Feist has quite the bourbon library.
I don’t mean to throw either of them under the bus, but it was a great opportunity to reflect on one of the lessons Our Lord gives us in this Sunday’s Gospel. The parable of the weeds and the wheat teaches us about the importance of
accepting where we are for now, but always having an eye on what the end goal really is. The landowner has to accept that there are potentially dangerous weeds in the midst of his crops, while also recognizing that pulling them out too soon would do more harm than good. In order to not destroy his livelihood, he has to live with the imperfect while knowing that the situation will eventually have to be resolved.
The day and age in which we live places a high value on tolerance, both internal and external. We are told that our flaws are not really flaws, and that we are perfect, just the way we are. There is obviously a benefit to this, at least
inasmuch as it stops us from delving into self-hatred just because we aren’t yet a finished product. But if that message is not accompanied by an understanding that we have to be purified before we can enter fully into union with God, we miss out on the work that Jesus wants to do in our lives. Yes, we all have imperfections, and we have to see that they are not the end of the world. But that should not be an excuse to stop working on them entirely. Jesus calls us to be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow, necessarily, but we can’t tread water in the spiritual life. Our focus each day should be on growing in virtue, cutting vice out of our lives, and doing whatever is necessary to grow in holiness. The task is immense, but just like anything else, it will be done one step at a time. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote, a man doesn’t grow a beard in a moment of passion. Identify the weeds that are growing alongside the good fruit born by your life and ministry. Do not despair, but do not ignore them either. God wants to heal us more than we ourselves want to be healed. Turn everything over to Jesus and allow Him to transform your life.