Known By Its Fruit

‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! Matthew 12:33-42

We are known for what we produce, good or evil. I words might help or hurt, but our actions are louder than anything we can speak. Jesus was speaking with the religious leaders of his day, who were constantly criticizing his ministry and his healing of the people. We who are religious leaders in this time must pay attention to these words and examine our lives, especially the fruit of our ministries. Who have we brought God's love to and who have we left out of that love? All of us must continually care for our "gardens" and make sure our lives witness to God's love among us.

Loving Creator, source of all good fruit

we can do nothing without your love

steadfastly with us in our good times

and always with us when we are failing.

We often believe ourselves to be righteous

while we quickly condemn the fallen ones

we laugh at their folly and are very smug

while you are caring for them without us.

Help us today to see the error of our ways

give us the insight to care for those around us

make us those who tenderly love the people

producing good fruit for the kingdom of God. Amen.