Good Fruit

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. Matthew 21:33-46

Yesterday there was testimony in front of Congress, that modeled good fruit. Someone brave enough to tell the truth despite the consequences. This young woman knew her testimony would bring reprisals, and abuse, yet she put others and the nation first before power, control and money. She could have remained silent and saved herself great anguish throughout her life. Bearing good fruit often calls us to do the hard things, the self-less things, those acts which serve the common good. Selfishness and greed are never good fruits. May we all live with courage as we tell the truth, fight for the overlooked and the hurting and seek justice and freedom for all in God's love.

Creator, we live in troubled times

yet you look upon us with your love

your compassion rolls down like rain

and soaks into all the dry places.

Give us courage and strength to be faithful

in times when others serve only themselves

and help us be agents for love and justice

in a world broken by great greed. Amen.