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Commentary of the Word
Holy Spirit, the fire of God
In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of seeds and wheat, but this time, he is not addressing the crowd but his small group of disciples.
We notice a change in emphasis in the explanation of the parable. Matthew indicates that at the end of the ages, the evil forces will be cast into the fire of God’s wrath, describing the terrors that await the evildoers—there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This explanation was a catechesis addressed to the community of Matthew at the end of the first century. Apparently, the early Christians may have lost their dedication to their faith after following Jesus’ teachings for a few decades. The author of the gospel seeks to jolt them into action by employing a language and imagery often used by the religious teachers of the time, such as fiery furnaces, weeping and gnashing of teeth, as well as references to angels and demons.
While reading this passage, it’s crucial to refrain from misinterpreting God as a condemning authority figure. St. Paul stresses that God is the Father who wishes for the redemption of all (1Tim 2:4). The Gospel of John asserts emphatically that “He did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (Jn 3:17).
The only fire that God sends is his Spirit, that descended on the disciples during the Pentecost (Acts 2:3). It is the unstoppable flame that will burn all traces of weeds in the heart of every person, leaving only the good grain in each person. The fire of God, The Holy Spirit will one day wipe out all forms of evil.