The Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Episcopal/Anglican Church, presided this morning over the Holy Eucharist in English at All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek, attended by members of the congregation representing various nationalities.
In his sermon, titled “The Wheat and the Weeds,” the Archbishop addressed a question that troubles many people: Why does God allow both good and evil to exist together in the world? He explained that Jesus Christ answered this question through the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, emphasizing that, in His wisdom, God permits both to remain together until the time of the harvest, when He will execute His righteous judgment.
Archbishop Samy Fawzy explained that the Holy Bible identifies the wheat as representing the children of the Kingdom, while the weeds represent the children of the evil one. He stressed that evil does not originate from God but entered the world through the enemy. He added that weeds closely resemble wheat in their early stages of growth, making them difficult to distinguish. This, he said, calls believers to spiritual vigilance and cautions them against hastily judging others, since God alone knows the secrets of every heart.
The Archbishop further noted that Christ refused to uproot the weeds before the proper time because human judgments can be hasty and unjust. Instead, God grants everyone the opportunity to repent and return to Him. He referred to the Apostle Peter, who denied Christ three times but later repented and became one of the pillars of the Church. He also cited St. Augustine, who taught that the Church on earth contains both saints and sinners until the day of the final harvest.
Archbishop Fawzy went on to explain that the presence of evil people and life’s challenges can contribute to believers’ spiritual growth by providing opportunities to demonstrate Christ’s love and to pray for others. At the same time, God’s patience opens the door for sinners to repent. He emphasized that God is patient because He desires everyone to come to repentance, and that His patience should never be mistaken for indifference toward evil. Rather, it reflects His mercy and His desire for the salvation of all.
The Archbishop concluded his sermon by encouraging believers to remain spiritually watchful, persevere in prayer and the study of Holy Scripture, refrain from judging others, and examine their own hearts before God in preparation for the day of the harvest.
Issued by:
The Press Office of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt