HEAR HIS WORD AND LIVE IT IN FAITH
Charles
Read said, "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a
character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." Character, like fruit,
doesn't grow overnight. It takes a lifetime. Jesus connects soundness with good
fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is
healthy (whole). Good fruit is the result of sound living - living according to
moral truth and upright character.
In
the Scriptures is an overall message assuring us of God's unfailing love for
us, as well as suggestions or exhortations to help us through life and its
trials, leading us to an ultimate victory over sin and death. Nothing or
anyone, other than Christ Jesus can provide or be this same rock-like
foundation. The Scriptures put it well in calling God and Christ over and over
"my rock," "my refuge," "my stronghold" ( 2 Sam
22:2 - 3; Ps 18:3). Dependence on our heavenly Father, on Christ Jesus, is
simply a realistic recognition of the situation we face in this world. Reflect
upon this today!
As
the saying goes, "You don't need to be a rocket scientist" to know
that a rotten tree will not produce good fruit. Jesus was not a rocket
scientist, of course, but He knew a lot of science, as well as architecture, as
well as His heavenly Father's point of view regarding human behavior. Fill your
mind and heart with evil stuff and you can expect your words and actions to be
bad, for yourself and for others. But "Learn from Me," Jesus says,
and you will find life in abundance.
Paul's
first Letter to the Corinthians tells us a few things about Christ Jesus and
us. "Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one Body, for
we all partake of the one loaf" (1 Cor 10:17). If you and I fill our minds
and hearts with Jesus' patience, mercy and love today and every day, we'll be
taking a major step in the path of abundance, sound living, bearing the good
fruit and built on a solid foundation. In our Responsorial Psalm we acclaim,
"To You, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise" (Ps 116:17). Who is like the Lord, our God, enthroned on
high, looking down on heaven and earth" (Ps 113:5)?
Those
who hear His Word will live it in faith!