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.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."Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,listens to my words, and acts on them.That one is like a man building a house,who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;when the flood came, the river burst against that housebut could not shake it because it had been well built.But the one who listens and does not actis like a person who built a house on the groundwithout a foundation.When the river burst against it,it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."
REFLECTION
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?
We have been warned, shown, and taught the commands of God. The saints are great examples for us to follow. So why do we not do what He commands?
Our first parents' sin was all about pride, disobedience and self love. Deceived and convinced by satan, they wanted to exalt themselves as God's equal. And generation after generation, weakened by the original sin on our nature, has continued on with the legacy of refusing to obey God and love our neighbor.
Some have not been catechized to know the Ten Commandments.
Others, though they know right from wrong, choose to follow the world, the devil and the flesh. Unbridled youth desires overcome reasoning or perhaps some do not have the faith. We can only pray and wait on God to move our hearts.
Scripture holds the Truth and we see in the Gospels God's love, becoming man to save us from our own wretchedness and reconcile us to Him. He came, showed us the way and walks with us so that our wandering blindness and recklessness will be corrected and His light shine before us in our life's pilgrimage.
Jesus teaches us how to pray, treat one another and how to love. He has shown us--we can either be a bountiful tree, bearing much spiritual fruit or a stressed out, failing tree bearing no fruit, drying up because of our shallow roots. It is our decision and our choice to examine our lives if we are fulfilling the will of God.
Decide Now what we are going to be in the immediate future--pray for the enlightenment of God's grace, receiving His Spirit to know, follow and live the Truth. Or follow the world.
Are we getting pulled here and there? Or can we see good fruits from our labors? Or were the times we bore heavy crosses and endured difficult times the most fruitful? Have our tears and prayers for a loved one brought us closer to God?
When the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico, there is a natural barrier that shows without a doubt the power of God over His Creation.
God has given us His law and the faith to follow Him. It is time to share with others. Time to share Jesus' most fruitful time-- His crucifixion and Resurrection.
St Pope Cornelius and St Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, were martyred during the time of Christian persecution in the fifth century. They are inspiring examples of dedication in their pastoral ministry. Are we ready to follow in their footsteps?
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