[24] He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. [26] When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. [27] 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?' [28] He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' [29] He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. [30] 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."'"
(CCC 827) "Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal" (LG 8 § 3; Cf. UR 3; 6; Heb 2:17; 7:26; 2 Cor 5:21). All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners (Cf. 1 Jn 1:8-10). In everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time (Cf. Mt 13:24-30). Hence the Church gathers sinners already caught up in Christ's salvation but still on the way to holiness: The Church is therefore holy, though having sinners in her midst, because she herself has no other life but the life of grace. If they live her life, her members are sanctified; if they move away from her life, they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity. This is why she suffers and does penance for those offenses, of which she has the power to free her children through the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Paul VI, CPG § 19).
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