A Tree And Its Fruit

September 11, 2021, Saturday
Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 442

Reading I
1 Tm 1:15-17

Beloved:
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm
113:1b-2, 3-4, 5 and 6-7

R. (2) Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.

Praise, you servants of the LORD,
    praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
    both now and forever.

R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.

From the rising to the setting of the sun
    is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
    above the heavens is his glory.

R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.

Who is like the LORD, our God,
    and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
    from the dunghill he lifts up the poor.

R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.

Alleluia
Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

REFLECTION:

If I think of my life as a tree, I can ask how it is nourished and reflect on its vital quality. What ‘water’ do I soak in from the ground around me, what ‘light’ do I bask in, what ‘shade’ or ‘fruit’ do I have for the good of others? I take care of any negative conclusions of mine, remembering that judgment belongs to God alone. I ask only that the words of Jesus open me to God’s wisdom and truth.

The foundations of a building are often its least recognized feature, usually hidden and seemingly insignificant. My ‘faith foundations’ may not be known to many but are cherished by God to whom I bring them now in prayer, that they may be blessed and strengthened.

PRAYER:

Lord, mature discipleship is costly! Christians face many storms today. Without firm foundations I am in danger of being swept away. You search me and you know me, so grant me wisdom and strength to listen to your word and to live according to your truth. You are my sure and only foundation in times of distress and upheaval.