A Tree and Its Fruit
1 Timothy 1:15-17; Psalm 112; Luke 6:43-49
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit.” Today’s gospel passage discusses good and evil, which may be a challenging concept to grasp. Some people claim to be religious, but their actions show that they do not practice their beliefs.
A tree is known by the fruits it bears. With these words, Jesus compares the righteousness of the heart to good fruit. What kind of fruits do you bear? Does your character attract people to Christ or repel them? The fruits we bear are expressions of who we are.
If the fruits we bear are bad, St. Paul says in the first reading that there is hope, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he is a very good example of Christ’s mercy. He was lost but found. We, too, like St. Paul, can rise from darkness to light. No sin is bigger than God’s mercy.
Today, the church commemorates two friends in the service of Christ and his church. Pope Cornelius, helped by Cyprian, was able to oppose Novatian, the first anti-pope. They were perfect examples of faith; even when it meant their death, they did not deny God.
LET US PRAY
Lord God, help us to have the actions, words, and wisdom necessary to bear good fruit. May the things we think, the things we say, and our deeds draw many to your kingdom.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
