Bear good fruit for God…

FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD

26 JUNE 2024   WEDNESDAY X11

WORD of the DAY 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them.”                (Matthew 7: 15-20)

How shall I live this Word?   

Nature is our teacher. Jesus often uses images of nature to help us understand an important message. The whole Bible is rich in images taken from nature, eloquent and effective in transmitting to us a content of faith.  “By their fruits you will recognize them “; “if the branch does not bear fruit …” Certainly, we cannot judge the human heart; it is known only to God. However, works (fruits) can be a revealing clue in witnessing to who we are and what we believe in.

In his letter, Saint James expresses it very well, “What good is it, my brothers, if one says he has faith but has no works?” No bramble produces juicy table grapes! Thus, we can see if the faith proposed brings fruits of conversion, of inner peace, of active charity, of forgiveness. But if this is true, we can also say the opposite! There are people who produce abundant fruits of good and light without openly declaring themselves believers. In short, today’s Gospel urges us to overcome stereotypes, not to stop at appearances, so widespread among Christians.

“… a good tree cannot produce bad fruit”; what is essential is the heart. The fruits we can produce depend exclusively on what we are deep within ourselves. The Teacher leads us to visit the depths of our being to understand what kind of tree we are.

In prayer, we ask the Lord Jesus to guard us and to make us grow as a good tree that gives fruits of peace.

The voice of Pope Francis   Homily for Sts. Peter & Paul   June 26, 2015

A Church or a Christian without witness is barren; a dead person who thinks he is alive; a dry tree that does not bear fruit; a dry well that does not give water! The Church has overcome evil through the courageous, concrete, and humble witness of her children.”

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