Twenty-Third Saturday of Ordinary Time

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.

We are known by our fruit. God measures our lives according to how well we keep His commandments to love Him and all His children. If we continually love God and our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we will be fruitful. Our good thoughts, words, and works will show everyone around us that we are good. We will be witnesses of the faith to our fellow man. However, if we sin and turn to evil thoughts, words, and works, then those around us will know us as hypocrites, liars, and betrayers. So let us make every effort to produce good fruit so that one day when God picks us our lives will be ripe with sweetness instead of rotten to the core.

Do we produce good words and works? How do we give witness to God’s Goodness through our speech and actions? Do we prune away the rotten parts of ourselves so they do not contaminate the good within us?

O Lord, help us to bear good fruits.

Amen.