Growing Takes Time

The Overgrown Garden Rescue

Players use spoons to rescue wrapped candies, called good seeds, from a messy garden made of cotton balls, pasta, paper, and other weeds. They must work carefully because weeds count against their score. As the game continues, new challenges are added, including hidden seeds and a blindfolded round that creates lots of laughter. The activity helps youth think about making good choices and sorting through distractions while enjoying a fun and active game.

See the full instructions here.

After the game, ask these follow-up questions.

• What made it hard to separate the good seeds from the weeds?
• Did moving faster always help?
• What happened when someone tried to fix the mess too quickly?
• How did it feel when you had to be patient and careful?
• What might this game have to do with people, mistakes, and growth?

That game was silly, but it showed us something true. When things are all mixed together, it can be hard to sort them out. If you rush, you might make a bigger mess. If you are too quick to grab what looks bad, you might also hurt what is good. That is close to what Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel.

In Matthew 13:24-43, Jesus tells a parable about wheat and weeds growing in the same field. The workers want to pull the weeds out right away. That sounds reasonable. Most of us want problems solved fast. But the farmer tells them to wait because pulling up the weeds too soon could damage the wheat.

This parable can help us think about patience. We are still growing. Other people are still growing too. Sometimes we see mistakes first. God sees more than that. He sees the good that is still taking root. As we listen to the Scripture, think about where you need patience with yourself and where you need patience with someone else.

Read Matthew 13:24-30 (Parables of Kingdom Growth), the gospel for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.

The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

In the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-43, Jesus tells a story about a farmer who plants good seed in his field. Later, an enemy comes and plants weeds among the wheat. When the workers notice the weeds, they want to pull them up right away. But the farmer tells them to wait. If they pull up the weeds too soon, they might also pull up the wheat. So both are allowed to grow together until harvest time.

At first, this might seem like a strange story. Why would anyone leave weeds in a field? But Jesus is teaching us something important about patience. He is showing us how God deals with people. God sees everything. He knows what is good and what is bad. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. Yet He does not rush to judge us. He gives us time to grow.

Many young people put a lot of pressure on themselves. You might want to be a better student, a better athlete, a better friend, or a better Christian. Those are good goals. But sometimes we expect ourselves to change overnight. We make a mistake and become frustrated. We struggle with the same bad habit again and again. We pray for improvement and wonder why we are not already where we want to be.

God does not expect instant perfection. Think about how plants grow. A seed does not become a mature plant in a day. It takes time. It needs sunlight, water, and care. In the same way, faith grows slowly. Learning to follow Jesus is a lifelong journey. Even the saints were not perfect from the beginning. They had weaknesses, struggles, and failures. What made them saints was not that they never made mistakes. They kept turning back to God and letting Him help them grow.

When you fail, it is easy to become discouraged. You might think, “I should be better than this by now.” But God does not give up on you because of your mistakes. He sees what you can become. He sees the good seed growing inside you. He knows that growth takes time. Instead of giving up, He keeps inviting you to trust Him and keep moving forward.

This parable also teaches us to be patient with other people. Sometimes we notice the faults of others very quickly. Maybe a classmate is annoying. Maybe a sibling keeps making the same mistake. Maybe a friend lets you down. When that happens, it is easy to judge them. We might decide they will never change. We might become impatient or angry.

But God looks at people differently. He sees the whole person, not just one mistake. He sees their struggles, fears, and hopes. He sees the good that is growing inside them, even when it is hard for others to notice. Just as He is patient with us, He asks us to be patient with others.

Think about a time when someone gave you another chance. Maybe a parent forgave you after you broke a rule. Maybe a teacher helped you after you failed a test. Maybe a friend stayed by your side even when you made a poor choice. Those moments matter. They give us room to learn and grow. God calls us to offer that same patience to others.

Being patient does not mean pretending that bad behavior is okay. The farmer in the parable knew the weeds were there. He did not ignore them. He simply understood that acting too quickly could cause more harm than good. In the same way, we can recognize problems while still treating people with kindness and respect. We can tell the truth without being harsh. We can correct others without giving up on them.

Jesus also reminds us that God is the ultimate judge. Sometimes we want to decide who is good and who is bad. We want to label people and put them into categories. But only God knows every detail of a person’s heart. Only God sees the full story. Our job is not to judge people’s worth. Our job is to love them and encourage them to grow closer to God.

The next time you become frustrated with yourself, remember the farmer’s patience. God is still working in your life. Growth may be slower than you would like, but that does not mean nothing is happening. Keep praying. Keep trying. Keep trusting God.

And the next time someone else makes a mistake, remember how patient God has been with you. Give others the same grace you hope to receive. Encourage them. Pray for them. Believe that God is still at work in their lives too.

The field in Jesus’ parable was not perfect, but the farmer did not abandon it. In the same way, God does not abandon us. He stays with us through every struggle and every setback. He patiently helps us grow into the people He created us to be.

Small groups work best when everyone feels safe to share honestly. Encourage participants to listen carefully and respect different opinions. Remind them that nobody has to answer every question. The goal is not to find perfect answers but to reflect on the Gospel and learn from one another’s experiences. Give everyone a chance to speak, and avoid interrupting or judging what others share.

• Have you ever been frustrated because you could not change something about yourself as quickly as you wanted? What happened?
• Why do you think the workers in the parable wanted to pull up the weeds right away?
• Why did the farmer tell them to wait?
• What does this parable teach us about how God sees people?
• Why do you think God gives people time to grow and change?
• Can you think of a time when someone was patient with you after you made a mistake?
• How did that person’s patience affect you?
• What are some situations where it is difficult to be patient with other people?
• Why is it often easier to notice other people’s faults than our own?
• How can judging people too quickly hurt relationships?
• What are some ways we can show patience when a friend, sibling, or classmate keeps making the same mistake?
• What is one area of your life where you would like to grow closer to God?
• How can remembering God’s patience help you when you become discouraged?
• What do you think it means that God sees the good seed growing even when we cannot see much progress?
• What is one thing you can do this week to be more patient with yourself or with someone else?

This week, pay attention to moments when you become frustrated with yourself or someone else. When you make a mistake, resist the urge to put yourself down. Instead, pause and say a short prayer such as, “Lord, help me keep growing.” Remember that God is patient with you and knows that growth takes time. If you catch yourself thinking, “I’ll never get better at this,” replace that thought with, “God is still working on me.”

Also look for opportunities to show patience to others. When a sibling annoys you, a friend lets you down, or a classmate makes a mistake, take a moment before you react. Try offering a kind word instead of criticism. Give someone a second chance. Pray for one person who has been testing your patience. At the end of the week, think about how these small choices affected your relationships and helped you see people the way God sees them.

Let us take a moment to quiet our hearts and remember that God is patient with us every day.

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us even when we make mistakes. Thank you for never giving up on us. Sometimes we become frustrated with ourselves because we are not changing as quickly as we would like. Sometimes we become impatient with other people when they disappoint us or make the same mistakes again and again. Help us remember the lesson of the wheat and the weeds. Teach us to trust your timing and to believe that you are always helping us grow.

Help us be patient with ourselves when we fall short. Give us the courage to keep trying and to keep turning back to you. Help us be patient with others too. Show us how to offer kindness, mercy, and understanding. Open our eyes to the good that you are growing in every person we meet.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Themes

• God’s Patient Love: God does not give up on people when they make mistakes. He gives them time to grow and change. This lesson helps youth understand that God remains faithful even when they struggle.
• Ongoing Conversion Journey: Catholics believe that turning toward God happens throughout life. Growth in holiness takes time. This lesson encourages youth to keep moving forward even after setbacks.
• Mercy For Others: Jesus teaches us to treat others with compassion. People are more than their worst mistakes. This lesson helps youth practice kindness and understanding.
• Human Dignity Matters: Every person is created in the image of God. Each person has value and worth. This lesson reminds youth to respect others even when they are difficult.
• Avoiding Quick Judgments: Only God sees the whole picture of a person’s life. We often know only a small part of someone’s story. This lesson encourages humility when thinking about others.
• Growing In Holiness: The Christian life is a process of becoming closer to God. Good habits and virtues develop over time. This lesson helps youth see spiritual growth as a lifelong path.
• Trusting God’s Timing: God does not always work according to our schedule. Some changes happen slowly. This lesson encourages patience and trust when progress seems slow.
• Power Of Grace: God helps people grow through his grace. We do not have to rely only on our own strength. This lesson shows that God is always at work in our lives.
• Forgiveness And Mercy: Everyone needs forgiveness at times. God calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven. This lesson helps youth reflect on mercy in daily relationships.
• Hope During Struggles: Mistakes and failures do not have the final word. God can bring good from difficult situations. This lesson encourages hope when life is challenging.
• Christian Community Life: Faith grows through relationships with others. We learn to support and encourage one another. This lesson helps youth think about their role in the community.
• Charity In Action: Love is shown through patience, kindness, and understanding. Small actions can strengthen relationships. This lesson connects faith to everyday behavior.
• Following Jesus Daily: Discipleship happens through ordinary choices. We grow by trying again each day. This lesson encourages youth to follow Jesus in practical ways.
• Saints As Examples: The saints grew in faith over time. They faced struggles and weaknesses just like other people. This lesson shows that holiness is possible for everyone.
• Faith Through Patience: Waiting can be difficult, but it is often part of spiritual growth. Patience helps us trust God more deeply. This lesson invites youth to develop this important virtue.

Background Material

This lesson plan is rooted in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13:24-43, especially the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds. In the parable, the servants want to pull up the weeds right away. The farmer tells them to wait. He knows that pulling up the weeds too soon could damage the wheat. Jesus uses this image to teach about God’s patience and wisdom. God sees the whole picture. He knows that people need time to grow, change, and respond to his grace.

This message connects closely with Catholic teaching about conversion. The Church teaches that becoming holy is a lifelong process. Most people do not change all at once. Instead, they grow little by little through prayer, the sacraments, good choices, and God’s grace. The Bible often uses images of growth to describe the life of faith. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed that starts very small and becomes a large plant (Matthew 13:31-32). Saint Paul also reminds believers that God continues his work in them over time. In Philippians 1:6 he writes, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that growth in holiness takes place throughout our lives. It says, “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle” (CCC 2015). This reminds us that following Christ involves effort and perseverance. People will face struggles and setbacks. Yet God remains faithful and continues to help them grow.

The lesson also connects with Catholic teaching about mercy. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus shows patience with people who make mistakes. He calls sinners to repentance, but he does not give up on them. He eats with tax collectors, forgives sinners, and restores those who have failed. The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 shows a father waiting patiently for his son to return home. This reflects God’s desire to forgive and welcome people back to him.

Another important Catholic teaching found in this lesson is the dignity of every person. Because each person is created in the image of God, we are called to treat others with respect and charity. The temptation to judge others quickly is strong. Yet Jesus warns against this attitude. In Matthew 7:1 he says, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing. It means recognizing that only God fully knows a person’s heart and circumstances.

This lesson can also lead to discussions about the virtue of patience. Patience is one of the fruits that grow when people cooperate with God’s grace. It helps us remain faithful when change is slow. It helps us forgive others and keep trying after failure. As youth reflect on the wheat and the weeds, they are invited to trust God’s timing, accept his mercy, and extend that same mercy to others. The lesson encourages them to see faith as a journey of steady growth rather than a search for instant perfection.

Music Suggestions

• As It Is in Heaven by Matt Maher
• Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective
• Gather Us In by Marty Haugen