16 September 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: DO WE CULTIVATE GOOD FRUIT IN OUR LIVES AND REJECT WHATEVER PRODUCES BAD FRUIT? First Reading: First Timothy 1: 15-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113: 1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7 Alleluia: John 14: 23 Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49 Jesus said to his disciples: "A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. The fig tree was the favorite of all trees for the people of Palestine.  It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity.  On the other hand, thorns were only good for burning as fuel for the fire.  There’s a saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise, a person will produce good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. 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. Good fruit is the result of sound living ⏤ living according to the truth and upright character. The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit? By being true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies the grace we need to live as his disciples. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance. Do we cultivate good fruit in our lives and reject whatever produces bad fruit? This is the 1240th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Solphie Confiado as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesForChrist