My Fruit

The WORD today reminds me to be conscious of my fruit. 

A mango tree bears mango, a coconut tree bears coconut. Looking at a tree will not only give you what fruit it will bear, but also what quality. A strong, mighty and leafy mango tree would usually give good fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A fruit gets its quality from what's inside the tree. 

Jesus warns us to look past the superficial level – to look beyond the seemingly harmless appearance and see what is inside. Jesus wants is to look deep into our hearts and see beyond what other people see, beyond what we project, beyond what we say. Jesus is asking us to examine our lives and see what is inside of us, because eventually it will come out and bear fruit. What is inside would manifest outside. Goodness or evil inside would translate into good fruit or bad fruit. The first reading also reminds us of this. The fruit of the tree is due to the care it had, and that what one speaks is what's inside. 

We all bear fruit.

Jesus sees what is inside of us. He sees way past our actions, our image and reputation and what we say or project to other people. Kahit sabihin mo, or ipakita mo sa ibang tao, alam ni God ano yung nasa loob ng puso mo. Minsan, kahit hindi mo alam, kahit hindi ka aware, alam ni God. God knows. That’s why it is important to always pray and ask his guidance as he reveal what is really in our hearts.

Am I seeking God’s will in my actions? Are my words consistent with my actions? What fruits am I bearing in my life?  Do I bear good fruit? Or do I bear bad fruits? What can I do so that I will always bear good fruit for God? 

May we be inspired and do our best to bear good fruit for God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for reminding me that I should bear good fruit. Lord, Sorry for the times I don't give it much thought. Sorry for the times I get contented with a good reputation and image, and not a good fruit. Lord, I ask that as I live my life, You help me to be always aware of my intentions, of what is inside my heart. I pray that I always seek your guidance and seek and obey your will above all so that I can glorify you. May my actions always be consistent with my words. May my life be my love letter to you. May my life bear good fruit for your glory. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• FEBRUARY 26, 2022
• February 27, 2022
• FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 84

Reading I

Sir 27:4-7

When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace,
so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

R (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
            to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
            and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
            like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
            shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
            vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
            my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Reading II

1 Cor 15:54-58

Brothers and sisters:
When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility
and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:
            Death is swallowed up in victory.
                        Where, O death, is your victory?
                        Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Alleluia

Phil 2:15d, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”