God has planted us, cared for us, blessed us, and entrusted something precious into our hands. Therefore, He expects us to bear good and excellent fruit.
In the first reading, Isaiah describes Israel as the Lord's vineyard. God prepared everything necessary for the vineyard to flourish, but instead of good grapes, it produced wild grapes. In the Gospel, Jesus gives us a similar image: the owner carefully prepared his vineyard and entrusted it to tenants, but when he came looking for fruits, they refused to give him what belonged to him.
The question for us today is simple:
What kind of fruit is my life producing for God?
St. Paul tells the Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable… think about these things” (Phil 4:8). In other words,
do not settle for spiritual mediocrity. Work toward excellence in your relationship with God and with others.
God has deposited something beautiful in every one of us. He has given us life, faith, talents, opportunities, relationships, and time. He does not expect us to be perfect, but He expects us to
keep growing and bearing fruit.
Spiritual excellence means choosing forgiveness when hatred is easier; choosing honesty when lying is convenient; choosing prayer when distractions are everywhere; choosing kindness when others are unkind; choosing responsibility when nobody is watching; and choosing holiness even when the world tells us that holiness is unnecessary.
Jesus says, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). Our Christianity must therefore be visible in the way we live.
Let us ask ourselves today:
Am I producing good fruit in my family?
Am I producing good fruit at my workplace?
Am I producing good fruit in my parish and community?
And, most importantly, am I producing good fruit in my relationship with God?
Dear friends,
God has invested too much in us for us to live ordinary and fruitless lives. Let us not disappoint the One who has entrusted His vineyard to us.
May our lives produce the fruits of
faith, love, forgiveness, patience, generosity, honesty, service, and holiness.
And when the Lord comes looking for the fruits of His vineyard,
may He find in us not excuses, but excellence; not empty leaves, but abundant fruit.
Amen.
