Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
https://www.acatholic.org/september-12-2015-every-tree-is-known-by-its-own-fruit/
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 6:39-42
September 10, 2022 | Saturday
No healthy tree bears bad fruit, no poor tree bears good fruit. And each tree is known by the fruit it bears: you don’t gather figs from thorns, or grapes from brambles. Similarly, the good person draws good things from the good stored in his heart, and an evil person draws evil things from the evil stored in his heart. For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart. Why do you call me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what the one is like, who comes to me, and listens to my words, and acts accordingly. That person is like the builder who dug deep, and laid the foundations of his house on rock. The river overflowed, and the stream dashed against the house, but could not carry it off because the house had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act, is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. The flood burst against it, and the house fell at once: and what a terrible disaster that was!”
Today’s Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, we are called to look inside ourselves by examining the deep roots of our actions. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit.” This verse from the evangelist Luke gives us a criterion for discernment whether the fruit of our action is inspired and if it comes from God or his enemy.
Are the effects of my actions good? Do they lead others to the Lord? Do they lead me back to God? St. Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit with the “works of the flesh” (cf. Gal. 6: 16-21). He said, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another” (Gal. 6: 22-23.26). The words from our mouths and the fruits of our actions help us look at the depth and quality of our heart from where either wickedness or goodness flows.
We live in harmony with God as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. May we live and be guided by the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Gal. 6: 25). Let us constantly pray to the God and listen to His word. /Vulnerasti, 2022
