Arleane Ralph

July 10, 2025

Weeds in a Weary World

If you have ever tended a garden, you will know only too well about pulling weeds. The first challenge is to identify what the weeds look like, and this is not always easy. As we know, “weeds” are simply plants that you do not wish to have in your garden. Dandelions, for example are the scourge of people who wish to cultivate pristine lawns, while others may harvest the leaves for salads, or make wine with the plants. A field of yellow dandelions is also a sight to behold, and who doesn’t remember as a child “telling the time”, by blowing on a dandelion flower which has gone to seed? The main problem with weeds is that they tend to become invasive and crowd out other desirable plants.

One of the most satisfying parts of weeding is extracting the bothersome plant by the roots, but this can be difficult. Weeds tend to have deep roots to ensure their survival during times of drought. If the root doesn’t come out, the weed will simply grow back.

The Jewish people in Jesus’ time would have been very familiar with the rigours of agriculture. When Jesus told the story of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-29), the weeds, planted by “an enemy”, are allowed to grow among the wheat, but are removed and burned at harvest time. Sowing darnel, a weed that is hard to distinguish from wheat until the head matures, was a way for enemies to destroy someone’s livelihood with catastrophic consequences. Today, I am always on the lookout for the pesky dog-strangling vine in my garden. It looks like almost any other plant at first, but sprouts up quickly and can easily choke out everything around it. I was once on a hiking trail that was completely covered in it, making the path impassable. The name is well-deserved!

In the parable, weeds represent the things which separate us from God. They can take many forms, such as the worries of life, negative thoughts, obsession with wealth and possessions and a thirst for power. At this time especially, when the world is so broken and full of terrible news, it is easy to lose sight of God’s presence. There is a collective angst which threatens to bring us down if we don’t find ways to eradicate it (eradicate: from the Latin eradicare, to tear up by the roots).

I ask myself what things keep me at arm’s length from God? It’s not always obvious, and is often a matter of balance. God created us to enjoy life to the full, both in work and play, but I realize that if I allow one pursuit to crowd out everything else (like that dog-strangling vine!) I feel out of sorts. My prayer life suffers when I allow myself to become too preoccupied by other matters. Do I spend too much time fretting over the horrors of world events which are beyond my control, instead of looking for ways to help people in my community? Do I spend more time following online posts than actually communicating with other people? How do I share my wealth? Do I allow myself to be seduced by ads in the media which urge me to spend on an item “because you deserve it”?

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to “Seek first God’s kingdom” (6:33). The Message puts it this way, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” I know I’ll never get it completely right, but even the process of taking stock is a good first step.

PRAYER of Saint Augustine of Hippo
You have made us for yourself, O Lord,
And our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.

You may encounter construction noise and contractors when you visit the office this month. The installation of a vertical lift is underway in the program wing. Sorry for the inconvenience but TBTG, it’s finally happening!!

We are profoundly excited to have this work underway and it is only possible due to private gifts from generous individuals. The lift is phase one of the larger accessibility upgrade. If you want to help us reach our goals for the next phase — accessible external entrance and ramp — please reach out directly to any one of the clergy or wardens or make a donation though the ‘donate tab‘ on the All Saints webpage, marking your gift as designated for ELEVATOR.

*Sample stock photo; appearance of actual lift will vary.

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