Santhiya Philomone csc –
Readings: Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Mt 7:15-20
Today’s Gospel reading is an eye-opener. Evil is something that we do not usually take time to talk about, but we must recognize that the enemy is always at work against us. He is always there, tempting us to turn away from God.
As revealed in the reading, a tree does not go bad overnight. Rather, decay begins from within, and it takes time to show on the outside. On the other hand, growth in goodness is evident. Every farmer expects his trees to bear fruit. Imagine his great disappointment when harvest time comes, and he cannot even recoup his investment because some trees did not bear fruit. The same is true with God.
His words are seeds. He expects his words to make a positive result for those who hear them. He expects his children not just to bear fruit but to bear good fruits. In today’s first reading we find God’s promise of descendants to Abraham is renewed. Abraham became like a healthy tree that bore good fruit, retaining his energy and vigour all through the years. By the fruits I bear others will know my inner worth. If our lives bear good fruits, our hearts belong to God and are rooted in God.