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Rerun of Little Red Riding-Hood

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Listen to podcast version here.

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 thorn bushes, 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."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, before I can produce anything lasting in my life, I need to be united to you in prayer. Aware of my weakness and inclination to sin, I trust all the more in your forgiveness and mercy. I believe in your presence in the Eucharist. It gives me the assurances that you really are with your Church until the end of time.

Petition: Lord, help me to see more easily the goodness in people around me.

1. Wolves in Sheepskins: Today we abound with information, but are short on guidance. The media tell us that abortion is OK, that stem-cell research on human embryos is compassionate, that same-sex marriage equals tolerance. Wayward faithful ignore or insult papal teachings. "The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). How do I judge what I hear day by day? How do I gauge what the media tell me? Do I absorb everything I hear like a sponge? Or do I try to find out what the Church says on issues? Am I aware of how much the media can steal my interior peace? That it can leave me thinking in a very worldly way?

2. See The Fruits: Our Lord gives us a good criterion for gauging the work of other people: We are to look at what they produce. The people we see daily on television -- do their lives seem peaceful and happy? Are their families stable? Often, the most stable among us are those who live low-key lives. God often chooses to work outside of the spotlight. He works in those families that quietly raise their children in the faith. What lasting fruits am I producing for God? If married, have I been open to new life? If single, do I dedicate a fair amount of time to serving others? Do I help my friends learn about Christ? Do I help worthwhile charities?

3. Misjudging: The problem of judging can go the other direction. We might think that someone isn´t a good person, or that he isn´t very talented. Yet we are surprised, sometimes years later, to find that same person living in a near-perfect marriage, raising a happy family, or producing a thriving work of charity. Was our initial judgment faulty? If so, why? Do we recognize and appreciate virtue in others? Or are we fixated on the externals: Their looks? Their wealth? Their bubbly personality? What does that say about my

hierarchy of values?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am surrounded by views of the world -- so many opinions, so much information. I sometimes feel overwhelmed. Let me see in your vicar on earth, the Pope, the safe and sure path to follow in the midst of confusion.

Resolution: I will compliment someone for the hidden, but lasting, work they are doing for the Kingdom.

Fruitful By the Help of Our Lady

First Reading: 2 Kgs 22:8-13, 23:1-3

Psalm: Ps 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40

Gospel: Mt 7:15-20

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us very beautiful images and teaches us about good character in our Christian life.

1. Our relationship with God brings about the production of good fruit. The fruit reveals the nature of the tree. Jesus says” A good tree does not produce bad fruit. A bad tree does not produce good fruit.” To judge a tree’s fruit, we look, especially, at one particular moment—the period of production, or what we call harvest. In the same way, the quality of a Christian life reflects the heart of the man. Here, Jesus calls upon the treasure of our heart to reflect inner character. Our speech and actions are determined by the quality of our soul that produces them. By linking the heart and the fruit, our motives and actions are tied together.

If we want to produce good fruit, our motives must be clear and our focus must be on Christ, so that our choice will be directed toward our final goal—to union with Him. We also hope to be continually converted to Christ and to gradually renew our life, so that we can harvest our spiritual fruit in due season.

2. Jesus challenges us to be faithful in our life, as his disciples. Jesus says “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” How can we recognize Jesus as our Lord, and call him Master, and then not follow through on the commitment to walk with him? We can meditate on Our Lady as a perfect model in following her Son, Jesus Christ, as a true disciple. She “kept all the things (of Jesus) in her heart.” (LUKE 2: 51)

3. Jesus reminds us that he is our true foundation. He uses the parable of the two houses. One is built on rock, the other on sand. One builder dug deeply and laid the foundation on a rock. A secure foundation takes work. The hard work is worth it, because in the storm this house stands strong and secure. Nothing shakes it. Let us remember Jesus is our rock and sure foundation. We are able to continue standing during the trials of this world.

Today we especially bring to mind our Mother in Heaven. Through the prayers of Our Lady, help us to free ourselves from all evil on earth and lead us to eternal joy in heaven.