Earlier this Summer, my mother and I visited a blackberry farm. As we drove near the property, we first noticed a envelope factory. Soon enough, we came to a grove of wild-looking bushes and a car parked close by. A kind woman in a broad hat welcomed us, and shared this advice, “Plucking berries requires grasping the whole fruit and tugging gently. Gather as many as you wish, and samples are free! There are more ripened berries than hands to get them. Just remember to pluck the black ones, not the red which need more time, and avoid the bushes with thorns.” By following the farmer’s instructions, we had fun and brought home a few pounds of berries.
In the Gospel passage for today, Jesus commends his followers to recognize the moral quality of a person. He raises the importance of examining the results as well as the roots of one’s own life. Do I bear fruit marked by goodness or by evil? While anyone’s reactions to the difficulties of living are easily critical and marked by displeasure, do you allow such negative thinking to dominate your mind? If so, you’re likely endanger of bearing rotten fruit (Lk 6:43).
As I enjoyed filling my bucket with berries, some of the ones I plucked were overly delicate, possibly due to being overly-ripe. I knew to toss such bad fruit to the ground and carry on with my search for worthwhile ones. The knowledge that countless berries continued to grow on neighboring bushes kept me focus on my labors.
Jesus expects his disciples to keep a “store of goodness in his heart” (Lk 6:45). In my own life, I continue to struggle with exercising charity. Every day demands a renewed willingness to build up virtue and demolish vice. Even temptations that I have previously defeated (and memories of them) need recognition for what they truly are: Futile attempts by the Father of Lies to distract you and me alike from following Christ with the whole of our hearts & minds. Instead, be firm in Christ as a rock solid foundation.
In the language of St. Paul, let us pray to sincerely participate in the Body of Christ (1 Cor.:10:16). By our genuine devotion, we will be sure to provoke delight & mercy from the Lord God!
