KNOWING THEM BY THEIR FRUITS - 6/22/22 (Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time)

Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to His disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree 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.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062222.cfm

For more information on the Optional Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-22---saints-john-fisher-bishop-and-martyr-and-thomas-more-martyr/

For more information on examination of conscience and guide to confession, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Blessed Wednesday! By virtue of our baptism, we are called by God to be prophets. This does not mean that all of us have the extraordinary gift of predicting future events. But, it means that we are given the graces to discern His will for us. It is also God's will for us to meet people whom He chooses to be His instruments to lead us closer to Him. They can be the priests, our family members, friends, and even people whom we don't personally know. However, not everyone whom we meet will help us in our journey, even if they seem to be nice. This is why Jesus warned us of false prophets. 

During and even after the time of the apostles, there were false teachers who led astray many Catholics by their false teachings. And yet, the warning of Christ was not only applicable before. Even today, we should be on guard against Christians who come to us and seek to help us while in reality, they may keep us far from our Lord. How can we know who we should listen to? We should look at their fruits. A good tree will bear good fruit. This means that we will be able to see how a truly devoted person perseveres in holiness, and by imitating them, we can also grow in our faith, hope and love in God. But, a bad tree will also bear bad fruit. What are some of the signs that it's not God's will for us to listen to some people who approach us?

There are some people, whether they are Catholic or not, who will come to us and speak to us about God. But, their idea of prayer and relationship with God may be about having positive feelings rather than about doing the will of God. They may speak of the importance of loving our neighbors to the point that we should just tolerate their actions as long as they're happy instead of helping them to follow God's commandments. When it comes to faith, they may suggest that it's ok not to go to the Mass and not to listen to the Catholic Church even though God guides His Church and speaks through it. They may inspire us about careers and our future, not based on what God wills for us, but on achievements, honors, and riches, which are not the real standard of God. Jesus wants us to bear good fruits for us to be with Him in heaven. He is calling us to be more attentive to His voice in our conscience, so we can be aware and stay away from people who may not help us to remain in truth. 

This is why it's also important for us to know Catholics who are truly faithful to God. These are the people who always participate in the sacraments because of their love for God. It is helpful for us to ask help from a Catholic who knows the teachings of the Catholic Church and who makes time for his prayers and reflections. At the same time, the saints in heaven can help us, not just with their prayers, but with their examples since they are the models of our faith. By being familiar with the lives and the writings of the saints, we can have the hope of becoming truly humble and reaching the peak of holiness that God has for us. Who are we listening to? Do some people tempt us to not be faithful to the Church? And, do we also spend time to deepen our faith by imitating the saints? May we take this time to ponder and reflect on God's warnings for us to bear good fruit and to deepen our union with Him. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic