First Reading: Jer 1:1. 4-10; Psalm: 71 R. v. 15ab; Gospel: Mt 13:1-9

IMPROVING ON THE GOOD FRUITS

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty (Mt 13:8).

Let us approach the gospel of today with more sense of optimism. Because each time this parable is read there is always that tension to begin to identify ourselves more on the side of the seed that fell along the path, rocky ground and thorny soil. We probably do this in a bid to avoid that sanctimonious attitude which can relapse to complacency. But we are not too bad after all. There is at least a modicum of the fruit of the gospel visible in our lives. Maybe ten or twentyfold; even if we don’t fit into that profile of a hundred, sixty or thirtyfold as enumerated by Jesus. But at least we try.

To bring forth grain or to bear fruit according to this parable is to provide concrete charitable actions to our world. At least each of us isn’t too bad not to have done any good generally or in the life of an individual. There are degrees in our responsiveness to the gospel message. Jesus illustrated this as “hundredfold”, “sixtyfold” and “thirtyfold”. This underscores the degrees of good Christian living. We can as well try to see ourselves in this category even if we are below par. This will inject optimism as against despair.

So what is Jesus saying to us from here? It is that we can grow and do better in that effort to live a good Christian life. Our grain (good works) can grow from ten to twenty, thirty, forty and even to a hundredfold. We just have to identify that good work that God’s grace enabled us to do, and see how we can improve on them from time to time. Repentance is actually responding to God’s grace. Once we can identify one good thing we have done, we have started already on the journey to bearing greater fruits. The grace of God will enable us to do more if we dispose ourselves all the more. Then, the next stage would be that we take a further step on that staircase of good works. And step by step we shall get better. So, I don’t want to believe there isn’t anything good in us. Identify one and start from there.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see our efforts in living a good Christian life and then help us to improve on them. Amen.