Reading 1 EPH 4:7-16
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia EZ 33:11
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileanswhose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
HYPOCRITICAL LEAVES
"Look here! For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down. Why should it clutter up the ground?" –Luke 13:7
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for October 22, 2016
We don't hear of Jesus cursing straggly, leafless trees. Rather, He cursed good-looking trees with lots of foliage but no fruit (Mt 21:19). Likewise, in Jesus' letters to the churches in Revelation, He does not threaten to close bad-looking churches but ones that have great reputations yet little fruit. For example, to the church of Sardis, Jesus says: "I know the reputation you have of being alive, when in fact you are dead! Wake up" (Rv 3:1-2). To Laodicea, Jesus declares: "You keep saying, 'I am so rich and secure that I want for nothing.' Little do you realize how wretched you are, how pitiable and poor, how blind and naked! Take my advice" (Rv 3:17-18).
To the Church of today, Jesus may be saying the same thing. Yes, we have more foliage than ever – buildings, finances, and programs more than at any other time in the history of Christ's Church. Yet how much fruit is there under all those leaves? I know churches with half-million dollar budgets and five catechumens. Of course, the Church has the responsibility to take care of its old fruit, but where is the new harvest? Jesus curses just leaves. Leaves without fruit are hypocritical.
| PRAYER: | Father, make me a tree which has more fruit than leaves. |
| PROMISE: | "When He ascended on high, He took a host of captives and gave gifts to men." –Eph 4:8 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. John Paul II bore much fruit both during his long pontificate and in his timeless writings. |
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