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"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit" (Matthew 7:18).
Weeks ago I noticed one of the large apple trees outside my window hadn't yet come into bud. Its bare form stood alone among all the other trees that had long since flowered and were well into full leaf. At first I thought it must have died, but later figured it just needed a little more time to mature. Day after day I watched the tree and thought about its progress, until finally I surmised that the harsh winter must have killed it. Figuring it would soon be cut down, I didn't give it another thought.
Fortunately God doesn't give up on us that easily. And neither should we be quick to decide on another's growth. Like trees, we need to mature before we can blossom. We tend to think it's hopeless when others fail to bud, but God goes on feeding us with the desire that we grow in His love and bear fruit that is recognizable as good. In today's Gospel, Jesus compares Christian disciples with trees—some produce good fruit, others bad. How are we to distinguish between them? The difference can be recognized by the quality of our deeds—the "fruits."
The lone apple tree I left for dead is now fully leafed and lush with life, but because I gave up on it, I completely missed its spectacular flowering stage of pink and white blossoms. Now, with God's care, it's well on its way to bearing shiny red fruit, which is what He wants from each of us. "So by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20).
“I plead with you - never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” - Pope John Paul II
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Tichvon is a Catholic writer and Consecrated Marian Catechist under the Direction of His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke. Always faithful to the Magisterium, she spreads and defends the Catholic faith as a true witness of Christ, confessing the name of Jesus boldly, never ashamed of the Cross.
Elizabeth became aware of the need for the New Evangelization while in the two years of her formation as a Marian Catechist and wrote over 200 published meditations on Sacred Scripture from the daily Liturgy of the Word for various Catholic websites, and following Jesus' example, now teaches through her own parables so that by sharing her stories through social media, might bring others closer to the heart of Christ. She is currently a regular columnist at Catholic365 and as a Marian Catechist, her spiritual life is the foundation of her writing.
She completed UCLA's Graduate Program With Honors and worked as a Paralegal for 32 years before retiring from Chrysler's Office of the General Counsel in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Elizabeth's website may be found at elizabethtichvon.net
