The whole operation went as smooth as silk. He drove like a bolt of lightning. It was like being in heaven. He is dumb as rocks. All these expressions are similes, comparisons made between two different things joined by “like” or “as.” We use them to make a point, using something familiar to help us understand something less familiar. The Gospel parables resemble extended similes. They take what is known, in this case sewing seed, to help us understand something unknown, in this case the kingdom of God: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.”

We may lack detailed knowledge about farming, but we know enough to realize that sowing good seed should produce good results. However, in the parable, an enemy sows bad seed amid the good resulting in weeds growing with the good wheat.

Our natural inclination might be to get rid of the weeds because we do not want the weeds to overtake what is good. The owner says no. Let everything continue to grow and mature. Harvest time will reveal the difference more clearly, and at that time the weeds will be thrown away and burned.

What lessons can we learn from this parable?

The good and the bad exist side by side in the world. You know that, and I know that. Bad people and bad situations exist, and they exist right alongside good people and good situations.

Some people have a hard time admitting that there are bad people in the world. But look at the reality. Someone starts a computer virus. Hackers steal identities in order to make money for themselves. Various forms of abuse exist. People lie. People steal. People commit all kinds of atrocities. The newspapers, cable news, blogs and news sources daily tell the stories.

Some believe that there are no bad people, only bad actions. But the Gospels clearly tell us that what we do to ourselves and to others will be the foundation of how we are judged.

Remember in the parable the weeds are carted off to be burned.

In real life, distinguishing the weeds from the good plants can sometimes be difficult. In fact, there are some weeds that look pretty good. The inability to distinguish one from the other forces us to caution and to heighten our awareness of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

We also know that bad people can change. They are not condemned to destruction before harvest time but can always seek forgiveness. Remember, too, Jesus’ admonition to love our enemies. We do not have to like them, but we do have to hope for their conversion, hope that they turn away from doing evil. Forgiveness can be difficult and can tear us apart. However, forgiveness is not an event, but rather forgiveness is a process taking time and energy. One author has put it this way: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and then discover that the prisoner was you.”

On Sunday, we will pray in the responsorial psalm: “Lord, you are good and forgiving.” Shouldn’t we act the same?

Never give in to evil, always strive for the good. Our path to greatness is to remain solid in our faith, committed to goodness, ready to forgive, prompt to reject the weeds, and never to be overtaken by the weeds of life.