First reading 1 Timothy 1:15-17
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the greatest evidence of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in him to come to eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm 112(113):1-7
May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore!
or
Alleluia!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
Gospel Luke 6:43-49
Whoever hears me builds his house on a rock
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?
‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’
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Good fruit, solid foundation
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of the metaphor of a tree and its fruit to convey the truth that a person’s actions reveal their true character. A good tree produces good fruit, while a bad tree produces bad fruit. As we enter this time of prayer, let us deeply reflect and ask ourselves, “What fruit do I produce in my daily life? Are my words and actions a true reflection of the state of my heart?” Today, let us ask Jesus to fill our hearts with His love, forgiveness, compassion and faithfulness. The essence of what we have within our hearts shapes the words we speak and the actions we take.
Jesus calls us to build our lives on Him, our firm, solid rock foundation. But how do we do this? By putting into practice the word of God, we can cultivate a life that yields good fruit and stands strong amidst the storms of life.
Reflective question:
What concrete steps can I take in order to produce the good fruit of God’s love?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
