As we enter the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Holy Mother Church presents us with two profound passages for our meditation: Colossians 3:12-17 and Matthew 13:24-30. These readings, though seemingly distinct, are united in their call for patience, charity, and the ultimate triumph of Christ’s Kingdom. Let us reflect on these passages in light of the teachings of the Church Fathers.
Clothed in Christ: The Garment of Virtue (Colossians 3:12-17)
St. Paul exhorts the faithful:
“Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.” (Col. 3:12-13)
Here, the Apostle paints a vivid image of the Christian soul clothed in virtues. This imagery echoes the baptismal grace by which we are made new in Christ, recalling St. Augustine’s words:
“When the soul is regenerated, it must cast off the old man and be clothed with Christ, which means embracing His virtues—mercy, humility, and charity.” (Sermon 227)
To be “elect” and “holy” is not a personal accomplishment but a divine calling to manifest Christ in our daily lives. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, reminds us that our virtues must be visible in action:
“As a painter adorns a portrait with beautiful colors, so must we adorn our soul with mercy and kindness, that the image of Christ may shine in us.” (Homily on Colossians)
The ultimate binding force of these virtues is charity:
“Above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.” (Col. 3:14)
Charity, says St. Thomas Aquinas, is the virtue that unites all others:
“Just as a garment is held together by a clasp, so charity holds all the virtues in unity and perfection.” (Commentary on Colossians)
Thus, to “put on Christ” is to allow His peace to reign in our hearts, leading to true Christian harmony—both within the soul and within the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Wheat and the Tares: The Patience of Divine Providence (Matthew 13:24-30)
In the Gospel, Our Lord presents the parable of the Wheat and the Tares:
“The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat, and went his way.” (Matt. 13:24-25)
This parable reveals the mystery of God’s patience. The field is the world, the wheat represents the children of God, and the tares (or cockle) signify the wicked, sown by the devil. The servants, eager to purify the field, ask if they should uproot the weeds immediately, but the master forbids them:
“Lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.” (Matt. 13:29)
St. Augustine sees in this passage a warning against the rash judgment of sinners:
“Many who seem to be cockle today may, by the grace of God, become wheat tomorrow. Therefore, patience is required until the time of harvest.” (Sermon 73 on the New Testament)
This parable speaks directly to the Church’s visible condition in the world—where saints and sinners, faithful and unfaithful, exist side by side. St. Gregory the Great explains:
“The Church is now mixed with good and bad, but at the end of time, she will be purified. The patience of God allows sinners time for conversion.” (Homilies on the Gospels, 11)
The lesson is clear: God’s justice is not hasty, but perfect. Just as the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, so too must the Church endure trials, trusting in the divine plan. St. John Chrysostom beautifully illustrates this patience:
“If God were to remove all sinners instantly, where would His mercy be? But if He allowed them to remain indefinitely, where would His justice be? Therefore, He waits until the appointed time.” (Homily 46 on Matthew)
Living the Message: Virtue in a Fallen World
How, then, do we live out these lessons?
- Clothe Yourself in Virtue – As St. Paul urges, let our Christian identity be manifest through humility, patience, and charity. The world may be full of tares, but we are called to be wheat.
- Exercise Patience with Sinners – Like the master of the field, we must resist the temptation to judge too quickly. Many souls need time to repent.
- Trust in God’s Providence – Though evil seems to flourish, the final harvest is in God’s hands. The wheat will be gathered into His barn, and justice will be fulfilled in His time.
As we continue in this season after Epiphany, may we take comfort in the wisdom of Divine Providence and strive to live as Christ’s chosen, clothed in virtue, awaiting the final harvest with hopeful hearts.
“Let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts… and be ye thankful.” (Col. 3:15)