The readings from Colossians 3:12-17 and Matthew 13:24-30, which are often pondered on the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, speak to us about the heart of Christian life: the call to cultivate virtue within ourselves and remain vigilant against the forces that seek to corrupt the Church. Together, these passages remind us that while the journey of faith is laden with challenges, it also bears fruit in charity, peace, and unity. The insights of the Church Fathers help illuminate how we might live out these principles.
Colossians 3:12-17 – The Garments of Virtue
In Colossians, St. Paul urges Christians to “put on…mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another” (Col. 3:12-13). These virtues, he explains, are not optional; they are essential aspects of our identity as “God’s chosen ones.” St. Augustine, in his Exposition on the Psalms, teaches that “putting on” these virtues is akin to adorning ourselves with Christ Himself, who exemplifies them perfectly. Augustine notes that as we clothe ourselves in virtue, we make a space for Christ’s presence within us, allowing His peace to “rule in [our] hearts” (Col. 3:15).
St. John Chrysostom echoes this, pointing out that true virtue requires self-discipline and humility, not simply outward displays of piety. “Virtue,” he says, “does not consist in not committing sin, but in doing good,” a perspective which reminds us that bearing with others is central to the life of grace. For Chrysostom, these virtues allow the Church to live as a family united in charity, “which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:14). This vision of the Church as a “new man” (Eph. 2:15) is echoed in Paul’s command to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). Here, the “word of Christ” is both Scripture and the sacramental life, through which we receive strength to live in harmony and peace.
Matthew 13:24-30 – The Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat
The Gospel reading places us in a different, perhaps more sobering, aspect of the Christian life. In Matthew 13:24-30, Christ tells the parable of the weeds sown among the wheat. Here, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a field where good seed is sown, but where an “enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat” (Matt. 13:25). The wise response, the Master tells his servants, is patience: “Let both grow together until the harvest” (Matt. 13:30).
For St. Gregory the Great, this parable emphasizes the mystery of God’s patience and providence. He writes that the good seed represents “the sons of the kingdom,” while the weeds are “the sons of the evil one.” But God, in His mercy, allows both to grow, for sometimes “the wheat, which at first appeared to be a weed, turns into wheat.” This insight calls us to avoid hastily judging others; as St. Jerome warns, we cannot see fully into another’s heart or foresee the changes that God may work in them.
Yet the Fathers do not downplay the danger of evil within the Church. St. Augustine, in his Sermon on the Gospel of Matthew, likens the presence of weeds among the wheat to the trials and scandals that the faithful encounter. He reminds us that, while God allows evil to persist temporarily, there will indeed be a final separation where the righteous are rewarded and the wicked are cast aside. Thus, vigilance is necessary; but so is humility, lest we mistakenly view ourselves as perfect wheat while overlooking our own faults.
The Connection Between Virtue and Vigilance
Together, these passages convey a complete picture of the Christian journey. St. Paul’s exhortation to “put on” virtues and live in charity provides the internal foundation we need to withstand the difficulties that arise from the presence of “weeds” in the world and within ourselves. St. John Chrysostom reminds us that we need humility and love not only to live peacefully with others but also to navigate the challenges that evil presents. When we are rooted in mercy, kindness, and humility, we are less inclined to pass judgment or to act out of pride.
In this way, the virtues that Paul urges us to cultivate are our defense against the temptation to respond rashly to the evil around us. St. Gregory the Great beautifully illustrates this when he says, “We must endure the wicked with patience, just as we endure the rain, the sun, the cold.” It is not a passive endurance but a resilient patience, founded on the hope that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.
A Life of Unity and Holiness
These readings call us to foster unity within the Church and to be mindful of the mystery of God’s patience. As we strive to “put on” the new self each day, we are reminded that our lives should reflect the “peace of Christ” (Col. 3:15), a peace that transcends the world’s disorder and injustice. The Fathers show us that this peace does not come from ignoring sin but from addressing it with wisdom and forbearance.
Reflecting on these truths, the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany invites us to renew our commitment to live as “God’s chosen ones,” bearing with others in love and holding fast to the hope that Christ will bring His Church to perfection. We are reminded that while we journey through a world where weeds grow alongside wheat, God’s grace can transform even the most hardened hearts. Our task is to remain rooted in virtue, allowing God to work through us in His perfect timing.