I picked up this book at a thrift store a few weeks ago for a couple bucks. The cover was pretty nondescript- brown with a few heads of golden wheat on the cover. In general, I’m always on the hunt for Catholic books, but in particular I’m especially looking for books about discernment, prayer, and saints. So, when I read the whole title “Weeds Among Wheat Discernment – Where Prayer and Action Meet” I was sold.
It is by Jesuit Priest Father Thomas H. Green, S.J. I love it when priests are the authors of the books and even more so when they are from religious orders because it makes it really easy to see if the book is by a Catholic. This is important when you’re browsing ten full shelves of books in the “Religion” section.
Fr. Green also wrote Opening to God, When the Well Runs Dry, and Darkness in the Marketplace and others I’ve since seen on Amazon. They all sound really good. The first two are about prayer. I’m assuming the third is on a similar subject and not economics? I actually have When the Well Runs Dry already so probably I will read that after I’m done with this one.
I looked up Father Green and he received his PhD in Philosophy of Science at Notre Dame in 1968. My Father received his PhD in Physical Chemistry in 1969, so I wonder if they knew each other. Dad was active on campus and he said he was friends with several seminarians and I believe priests as well. I wish I could ask him.
Anyway, here are my notes from the Introduction and Chapter One and my response to the discussion question.
Introduction
Fr. Green argues that In today’s modern, complex world, believers are increasingly called to move beyond simple, passive adherence to rules. Instead, we must develop the mature capacity to listen for the Spirit’s guidance amidst the competing voices of daily life. This process is not merely a technical exercise but a sacred art, requiring both a prayerful heart and a deep, honest commitment to self-knowledge.
This requires a significant shift in how we perceive our relationship with God. Rather than viewing Him as a distant “watchmaker” who creates and abandons the world, or a “puppeteer” who controls every human action, Fr. Green points us to a more profound analogy:
- God is the Father of Adult Children: This framework suggests that while God remains our guide, He invites us into a relationship characterized by mature, responsible freedom.
- The Necessity of Struggle: As we grow, we learn that God’s will is often mysterious, requiring us to engage our intellects and hearts to distinguish authentic inspiration from internal or external confusion.
Chapter One: Biblical Beginnings: Good and Evil Prophets
Discernment involves navigating a threefold darkness: the mystery of God, the subtlety of temptation, and our own lack of complete self-awareness. Therefore, we must rely on time-tested principles. Drawing from the scriptures and the foundational charism of St. Ignatius Loyola, we can identify essential indicators of true spiritual movement. The people of the Old Testament discerned authentic prophets in several ways:
- Prophecies of misfortune are more likely to be authentic than prophecies of good fortune
- Authentic prophecy is confirmed from the prediction of “signs” which actually do come to pass.
- They display a fidelity to the fundamental faith of Israel. This is more important than the above because even the devil can work signs. Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Mosaic law but to fulfill it. God is faithful and cannot contradict himself. If the prophet contracts the basic faith of Israel, he cannot be moved by the Spirit of God.
- The life witness of the prophet is important in evaluating his adherence to doctrine. Does he/she live in a way that bears good fruit?
- What is the intention of the prophet? Does he or she act to curry favor and win power? Or to convert people to God? This is more difficult to gauge because unlike the previous criteria which are external and observable, this is internal and not observable by outsiders.
- The prophet’s own experience of his or her prophetic call. This experience is critical for the prophets themselves; it is the moment when they were captured by the living God: whatever good may have followed in their lives derives from this initial transforming experience. The concrete results are the fruit and confirmation of their initial encounter with the living God of Israel.
We can collapse these into three main principles and apply them to discernment in our lives:
- Prioritize Behavioral Integrity: Authentic spiritual growth is rarely found in erratic or sinful patterns; a prophet or guide is often revealed by the consistency of their life witness. What is the fruit?
- Seek Consistency with Revelation: Any perceived “new” insight must align with the fundamental truths of our faith. True evolution in understanding never necessitates contradiction of God’s established word.
- Analyze Interior Intentions: Beyond external results or signs, the discerning person must examine the root motivation. Are we seeking power and popularity, or are we genuinely desiring to lead others to the living God?
Ultimately, the goal of this spiritual practice is to foster a “habit of discerning love.” This is a gift of grace, learned by doing, trial and error, and consistent reflection on our lived experiences. It is a state of being where our wills are so surrendered to the Divine that we experience true liberty of spirit.
- The Practical Approach: Discernment is best cultivated through active engagement, such as using periodic questions to test our perceptions against our daily reality.
- Integration of Life: We must acknowledge that our “harvest field” contains both wheat and weeds, meaning our apostolic efforts will always be intertwined with human imperfections.
Exercise One
Today as much as ever, the mature Christian is called upon to ‘discern’ the prophets of our times and to judge which of them should be accepted as authentic spokesman of God. Which of the six Old Testament criteria for authentic prophecy would you consider most helpful in discerning a genuine prophet today?
Response:
I think for today, numbers three, four, and five are particularly important. There is so much of the world that pulls against the truth we have in the Church. And sometimes even what seems to be aligned with the Church really isn’t. I’m thinking of politicians who use their Catholic or even generically Christian faith to try and win votes but are hypocrites. Number one makes me think of prosperity gospel, where preachers predict great turns of fortune to those who empty their pockets for the Lord… but usually it’s to build a better mansion for the preacher.
Really the only one I think is less helpful is number two because with the capabilities of digital animation and effects, how can we really trust anything we see? With AI video so easy to create and getting better all the time, I expect this problem will only become worse. Perhaphs good discernment is more important now than ever.
