A Time For Fruit
- Msgr. Ching Encinares
- Jun 28, 2017
- 2 min read
Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
My dear encountered couples:
This is the season for trees to bear fruit. If they don’t, it might mean they were hit by frost and therefore unable to bear fruit this year, it might mean they are sick and need special doctoring, it might mean they have become worthless. Those who own orchards are always checking their trees to see how they are doing. We must do the same with ourselves.
“Every good tree” says Jesus “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.”
Human beings, like fruit trees, are supposed to contribute something good to the world in which we live. If we don’t, then there is something wrong with us as there is something wrong with fruit trees that don’t bear. And we are obliged to find out what that wrong is and do our best to rectify it. But often, as a tree doesn’t know what is wrong with itself, there are people who might not know what is wrong with them. Maybe they are unaware of anything being wrong at all. They might be blind to themselves and the value of their lives. They might be spiritually blind. And drift through life consuming rather than contributing. Can you and I ever become afflicted with that disease?
We must make sure we never allow our prayers and Masses to become merely routine, habitual words and actions without our hearts in them. Spiritual lethargy and spiritual blindness can creep into the lives of even the most religious.
Check yourself out periodically and see if you are bearing good fruit. We all must remain aware of the value of what we are saying and doing.
Commenti