‘‘For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.’ (Luke 6:43)’

In my own life, how often do I act contrary to what God is telling me to do? As part of my work, I speak with people who are discerning big choices in their lives, and often we already know what the right thing to do is. The trick is to follow through, letting our ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ reflected in word and action.

The Gospel speaks to the core of Christian living. We should listen to God, do what He tells us, to create a firm foundation, becoming a good tree which can bear good fruit. Easy right?

Building a firm foundation for our lives can often seem too difficult, inconvenient, or unnecessary. We might be fine getting by as we are now, even if we are missing the fullness of God’s promise, but it doesn’t take much of a flood to disturb that which was built for the sunny days.

God and the Church know this and encourage us to build ourselves a firm foundation made up of prayer, sacraments, community, and service. Not only will we then be secure when one of life’s surprises comes our way, but the fruit we generate will also be good fruit coming from a good heart.

+ Jesus, help me to listen to You more closely and give me the resolve to follow Your will for my life, in the big and the small things. Create in me a pure heart, that I may bear good fruit in all my life. Amen.

by Nick Kelly