FIRST READING
The king read all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord and made a covenant before the Lord.
A reading from the second Book of Kings (2 Kings 22:8-13; 23: 1-3)
In those days: Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. And when the king heard the words of the book of the lay, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah thy priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah; and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning Its.” Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his covenants and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people joined in the covenant.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119:33.34.35.3é*.37.40 (R. 33a)
R/. Lord, teach me the way of your statutes
Lord, teach me the way of your statutes,
and I will keep them to the end. R/.
Grant me insight that I may keep your law,
and observe it wholeheartedly. R/.
Guide me in the path of your commands;
for in them is my delight. R/.
R/. Lord, teach me the way of your statutes.
Bend my heart to your decrees,
and not to wrongful gain. R/.
Turn my eyes from gazing on vanities;
in your way, give me life. R/.
See, I long for your precepts;
give me life by your justice. R/.
ALLELUIA John 15:4a.5b
Alleluia. Abide in me, and I in you, says the Lord; he who abides in me bears much fruit. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“You will know then by their fruits.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 7: 15-20)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
If our minds and hearts are centered upon Christ, we will lead lives that bear good fruit for God. We are like trees that bear fruit. A good tree cannot bear rotten fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit. Jesus employs the examples of not being able to pick figs from thistles to support His point. Fig trees grow in nutritionally poor soil and tolerate seasonal drought. Deep-rooted plants with a strong need for water coming from the ground, they do really well near running water. To produce good fruit Jesus suggests by this metaphor that we should prefer the light, be rooted in prayer, nurture our faith, keep it fresh against a harsh environment and seek the running water of the grace of God. When the fig tree is fully grown, it gives dense shade and nutritional fruits. When we are matured in faith, others gain a lot from us. The fruit of our prayer life allows Christ’s light and love to work more fully in and through us to touch the lives and hearts of others. They will know us by our fruit.