Become a good tree

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, and Martyr A

We may be shucked when Jesu said, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit."

However, what Jesus is saying here is to know how to discern wisely regarding others. The standard of discerning who the true disciples of Christ is based on the results that they have done "by their fruits you will know them."

The "tree" here is the person, and the "flowers, leaves, branches" are the devotional activities such as: going to Mass, reading scriptures, praying, and joining charitable works. And the "fruits" of those works are sacrifice, love, forgiveness, compassion, loving God with all your heart, and loving your brothers and sisters sincerely.

However, many of us have too many leaves, branches, and flowers", but do not have "fruits."

If you are farming, you may know why trees cannot bear fruits.

It may apply to spiritual life too, and our life may not bear fruit if conceit, selfishness, sinful activities, and evil desires surround us.

So, what makes us bear fruits in our lives?

The only thing that makes us bear fruits doing everything rooted in the love of God and the love of neighbors because, as St. Paul reminds us, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, understand all mysteries and knowledge, and have all faith, to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have and deliver my body to be burned but have no love, I gain nothing.

Love is the core of our soul, making us bear fruits in whatever we do and become true prophets of God.

St. Irenaeus, the saint we celebrate today, is the true prophet who did everything in the love of God and others. He was a good tree of God in fighting against heresies and times of harsh persecution. As a pastor, he was distinguished because of his missionary zeal and the richness of his doctrines. His fruits remain until today.

We are called to be good trees to bear much fruit.