What happens when we let Jesus touch our heart?

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Gospel: 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 thornbushes, 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Over the last two years, I’ve developed an interest in gardening. 

This morning, I was proudly able to show off my little garden to my brother, who’s come to visit. It’s not much, but it’s a sacred space hidden behind a white picket fence, protected from the endless herds of deer who seem to eat everything in their path.

One of the first lessons I learned in gardening is that there are two types of branches: those that bear fruit and those that don’t.

We’ve all seen withering branches. They’re dark, limp, and slow to die. But even as they wither, these branches sap energy from the vine. 

It’s a fascinating truth: withering branches take energy to die. It’s why a gardener must identify and prune them quickly; they take energy away from the plant, which could be better used elsewhere.

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In the Gospel today, Jesus says, “Every good tree bears good fruit.”

It’s no secret: we all bear good fruit. Being present with the Lord today is but one example. But if we look deeper, perhaps the question for us is, “Can we bear more fruit?”

Are there withering branches within us – thoughts, habits, feelings – that sap our energy and need to be pruned?

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I don’t think twice about cutting withering branches off of my plants and trees in my garden.

But looking into my own heart and spiritual life can be different; at times, I hesitate to allow the Lord to be the Divine Gardener, to mercifully remove from me what isn’t bearing fruit.

Maybe you’ve felt hesitant, too.

May Jesus give us all the grace we need to be humble and grateful for such pruning. We’ll only be happier and healthier for it.

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Image credits: (1) Beloved Women (2) Revival Focus (3) YouTube, The Lord’s House