A good tree always produces good fruit. A rotten tree A good tree always produces good fruit. A rotten tree
produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit; and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit. Any tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruit.
Reflection:
If a tree is known by its fruits, by what fruit is a true Christian known? Paul has given us a list as the “true fruit”
of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol(cf. Gal 5:22-23).
The listis headed by the fruit “love.”Jesus himself has been very direct in pointing out by what fruit we are to be
known: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). Indeed,
it is by such love that the Christians were branded in the early Church, as Tertullian affirmsin his Apologeticus:
“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they loveone
another.”What is the defining fruit by which you are known?
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022
June 22, 2022
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep’s Beware of false prophets: they come
to you in sheep’s clothing; but inside, they are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by
their fruits. Do you ever pick grapes from thorn bushes; or figs, from thistles?
Published in
Daily Gospel