Good Fruit Inside

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Gn 15:1-12, 17-18; PS 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 7:15-2

First Reading
From the NABRE:
Cutting up animals was a well-attested way of making a treaty in antiquity. Jer 34:17–20 shows the rite is a form of self-imprecation in which violators invoke the fate of the animals upon themselves. The eighth-century B.C. Sefire treaty from Syria reads, “As this calf is cut up, thus Matti’el shall be cut up.” The smoking fire pot and the flaming torch (v. 17), which represent God, pass between the pieces, making God a signatory to the covenant.

The Lord has bound himself completely to making his promise to Abram come to be.
Like fruit, the inside is hidden from view. But the vision and the promise, together, make for a compelling movement of faith in the Lord. It is like a farmer who plugs a watermelon for a customer.

Responsorial Psalm
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Alleluia Verse
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.

Gospel Portion
I am sure this has happened to you too.

Have you ever bought fruit that was rotten inside?
It looked really good, just the right firmness and smelled wonderful.

But inside the fruit was rotten and even wormy too.
Yuck!

I remember as a kid the farmers with their pickup trucks would come by throughout the summer season. In the back stocked high were the watermelons.

Before you bought one, the farmer would plug the melon and give you a taste.
Yum!

You knew the fruit was good by the taste from the inside.

Taste of what is inside.

Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry