What fruits does your life bear? Can they be classified as good fruits? - Daily Reflections June 22, 2016

SANCTITY AS SEEN IN THE FRUITS

 

Jesus’ instruction on false prophets in today’s Gospel are strong warnings against the so-called wolves in sheep’s clothing. He gives a sure-fire, foolproof litmus test: “By their fruits you will know them.” Take note that He said, “by their fruits,” not “by their roots.”

       Prophets, genuine or otherwise, can have colorful backgrounds, solid credentials, and credible reputations. But depending on the results they produce, whether their pronouncements and teachings translate into sincere and genuine manifestations in the lives of their listeners and adherents, remains to be seen. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as the saying goes.

       We see this in the lives of our saints for today. We have a choice of three, and we can take our pick as far as our liturgy is concerned. (They’re all optional memorials for today: St. Paulinus of Nola, Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More.) The nice thing is that each one of them will do in exemplifying our point above. Their canonization by the Catholic Church is the official seal of approval. Their lives are worthy of our imitation. The saints are the “poster boys or girls” of living out Jesus’ teachings. But lest we think that the whole thing is just for the likes of them, let us not forget that the call and challenge to sainthood goes out to each of us as well, with equal urgency and seriousness.

       “Small-letter-s” saints — that’s what we can be, and that’s what we strive to be. And even without beatification and  canonization, may we all have the fruits to show for it. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONs: What fruits does your life bear? Can they be classified as good fruits?

 

Help me to bear fruit for Your Kingdom, Lord. May my life shine Your light to the world. Amen.