Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Ruth Maier
Opening Prayer
Father in heaven, form in us the likeness of Your Son and deepen His life within us. Send us as witnesses of gospel joy into a world of fragile peace and broken promises. Touch the hearts of all with Your love that they in turn may love one another. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
Reading
Luke 6: 43 – 45
Jesus said to his disciples: “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. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in their 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.
Reflection
The past couple of Sundays Luke has proclaimed Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain” in which Jesus gives us Luke’s account of Jesus Beatitudes – just four in contrast to Matthew’s eight in the “Sermon on the Mount.” In these two Sermons of Jesus we have the Blue Print for Christian Living.
As Jesus concludes this “Sermon on the Plain,” He is concerned that His disciples live with integrity as He tells them the parable of the “good tree.” He calls them to be “good trees” bearing “good fruit.” A persons actions and words reveal what is the nature of their tree – good or rotten. What we do, who we are flows from the nature of our tree, from what we have stored in our heart.
The “store of goodness” in one’s heart comes from our baptismal identity with Jesus, renewed through prayer, reflection and grace. When we produce good fruit through kindness, generosity, mercy and forgiveness, we inspire similar efforts in others. The fruits of goodness sustain the lives of others and can encourage weary hearts to place their faith in God. Take sometime this week to examine what is stored in your heart.
As you examine your “store,” what kind of tree do you see?
Closing Prayer
God of the vineyard, You oversee everything that grows and the fruit that it bears. Grant that our works may produce only that which is good and pleasing in Your sight. Accept our lives as a fruitful offering to You.
We ask this through Jesus, Your Son and our brother. Amen
