Category: Uncategorized

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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) revivalfocus.org (2) Sant Cruz Permaculture (3) My Days Well Lived, blogpost

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Gospel: Matthew 7: 6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine.”

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There are a few phrases in the Gospels that seem lost in translation. This may be one of them.

So, what exactly did Jesus mean?

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To the early Christians, these words had an implicit exclusiveness; an “us versus them” mentality.

Jesus makes the distinction here between what is holy versus what is unholy; between what is thrown to dogs versus what is kept; between pearls and pigs. 

Christians saw themselves as the “holy” ones; the pearls; the ones who were saved. If they were to follow Christ faithfully, then they needed boundaries to protect themselves.

Associating with non-believers and giving into temptation watered down their faith. 

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You and I are no different. We must work hard to nurture our faith.

What boundaries have I erected to guard my heart? How do I protect the pearl of my faith?

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“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine.”

Protect it, lest you lose it.

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Image credits: (1) Scott on Scripture, WordPress.com (2) Justice Versus Conscience (3) Theworldlyrice

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Gospel: Matthew 7: 1-5

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Why is it so harmful to judge other people?

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Because judgments lead to generalizations. 

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For example, if a child is bitten by a dog once, then he or she can develop a fear of dogs. Suddenly, every dog is dangerous.

Or, if you have one bad meal at a restaurant, it’s easy to say, “I’ll never go there again.”

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While we need to make certain judgment calls to protect ourselves, what Jesus warns us about is judging the morality or character of another person based upon a single action.

For example, if we judge someone for losing their temper once, then it it’s easy to say, “Oh, he’s an angry person.”

Or, if someone makes one impure joke, it’s easy to say, “That’s an impure person.”

But it’s not the business of Christians to be the confident moralist who passes judgement on those who stumble – not publicly, and not in the silence of our hearts.

As Mother Teresa once said, “If you spend all your time judging other people, then you have no time to love them.”

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Perhaps we should examine our hearts today and consider how we see other people. Have we developed unfair judgments of others? 

Or do we readily forgive and offer a second chance?

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“For as you judge,” Jesus says, “so you will be judged.”

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Image credits: (1) Aldersgate United Methodist Church (2) Quotespedia.org (3) Truthfollower.com