Hey guys:

Here's some great passages that, I believe, have to do with what the Church is facing today:

Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;

[25] but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. [27] And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' [28] He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' [29] But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" [31] Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;

[32] it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." [33] He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

[34] All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable.

[35] This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." [36] Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."

[37] He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; [38] the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. [40] Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. [41] The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, [42] and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. [44] "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

[45] "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

[46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. [47] "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;

[48] when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. [49] So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, [50] and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. [51] "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." [52] Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."

-- Gail (Rothfarms@socket.net), April 27, 2002

Answers

Whoops -- I meant Tares among WhEat!

I just wanted to add that while I have been studying catholocism for the last year, I kept asking myself "What is the Catholic Church?" It's not really a denomination . . . It's like no other church or denomination . . . It's definitely Unique! Anyway, the word that kept coming to me is 'kingdom' It's a kingdom, complete with laws, jurisdictional guidelines, etc. It's a kingdom!

Now, read the above passages and notice how Christ refers to the Kingdom, and you see how perfectly the present crisis of the church fits!

Love Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socketn.net), April 27, 2002.

To Jesus Christ, our sov'reign King,
Who is the world's salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.
Christ Jesus Victor,
Christ Jesus Ruler,
Christ Jesus Lord and Redeemer.

[Fr. Martin Hellrigel] (One of my favorite hymns, Gail.)
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 27, 2002.

That's beautiful, John. I wish I could hear the melody!

Thanks,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), April 27, 2002.