The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, September 16, 2006
Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
St. Cornelius, pope and martyr
St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18
Luke 6:43-49

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Every tree is judged by its fruit . . . ."

Certainly there is an element of judgment explicit in the words of Jesus today. But there is also an element that, while not implicit, is rather hidden, and it nicely complements the epistle.

Jesus continues to say, "For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles." There is a comparison here of "good plants" and "useless plants"--figs and thorn bushes, grapes and brambles. A good tree will have good fruit--not so a tree that is not.

However, also here is the mention of several kinds of fruit. Our Lord's message here is that there are two forms of judgment--the general--did you produce good fruit according to the general rules, and the particular--did you produce the fruit of the bush you were. Because one does not pluck grapes from fig trees any more than one does from brambles.

If we are grapes, we should not long to be figs. If figs, we shouldn't try to reform ourselves into dates. If dates, we shouldn't look to become oranges. Our tendencies in the spiritual life are to look for gifts we do not have. As a result we weaken ourselves and the particular gifts God gave us to strengthen the Body.

So, if a grape, be a grape, contentedly knowing with absolutely surety that this is where God has placed you. If you serve in soup kitchens and do it well, do not lament that you aren't cloistered. If you are stuck at home, unable to get out, do not lament that you cannot advise at abortion clinics. Be whom God made you to be. Rejoice in your gifts; cultivate the particular fruit God had blessed you with.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)