By Their Fruits
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 7:15-20 - Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“By their fruits you will know them.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
In today’s Gospel Jesus is teaching something which is very common sense. This is often the case with Christ’s teachings. They just make sense to us. When Jesus says that a “good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit,” He is really teaching us that ultimately good people and good teachings will reveal themselves to be good, and that bad people and bad teachings will reveal themselves to be bad.
Sin always seems attractive at first. The devil packages it that way. But it is a deception. Sin never leaves us happy. During prayer, let’s look back at any sinful decision that we’ve recently made and see if it left us happy. Doing what is right, on the other hand, often seems difficult. But doing what is right always leaves us happy, eventually. During prayer, let’s look back at any good decision that we’ve recently made and see if it left us happy.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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