Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire."[1]

One of the greatest fallacies of the modern era is the denial of truth itself—the notion that truth can be different for different cultures, or different in various times and places. This notion has harmed modern society, for it is impossible to agree on a unified course of action if the members of that society have beliefs that go off in widely divergent ways. The modern temptation is to respect all points of view—no matter how alien they may be—at the expense of finding and pursuing genuine truth. Indeed, today, more often we are seeing the craziest points of view demanding the suppression of the more logical.

Our Lord made no such mistake. He told us that not all systems of belief were equally good. There are, and there always will be false prophets and teachers whose intention (knowingly or unknowingly) is to subvert God's people—"to devour them," as it were, "as ravenous wolves."[2] He tells us that there is such a thing as falsehood—that we must have our eyes and ears open to identify it—and that we must do our best to avoid it.

Our Lord goes farther: He proposes a standard by which we may know the false prophets; how we may distinguish them from those whose teaching is true and profitable: "By their fruits you will know them."[3] He compares them to the trees, indicating that good things will come forth from those who preach the truth, while only bad things will come from those who propose falsehood.

But even this saying may leave a question in our minds: Just what is good and what is bad fruit. When we apply this metaphor to human society it is not always so clear. Modern Americans (and perhaps others) tend to judge things in terms of quantity, without regard to quality. It is easier to look at numbers than to delve deeply into the philosophy of a thing:

But, our Lord doesn't leave us after simply telling us to seek the good and avoid the bad. He describes the good a bit more precisely: “He who does the will of my Father shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.”[4] The fruit then, of any organization, or system of thought, is good if—and only if—it is in accordance with God's will. Otherwise it is spoiled fruit; bad fruit.

For example, the Humanism that pervades so much of today's thinking, is bad insofar as it ignores or contradicts the will of God and the honor due to Him. It is bad, even though it provides physical or psychological comfort. Men may feel good, flattering themselves with notions of superiority; they may even do good works for their less fortunate brothers; but without God, these things are of very little enduring value.

Or for another example, Modernism; the foolish notion that God and God's truth are changing as the human race matures or "evolves." The Modernism that falsifies God's commandments, so that its followers can't even try to do the will of God. Or that Modernism which, in its extreme form, claims that we are all evolving into God—making His will indistinguishable from our whim. Or that Modernism that claims that “truth” can be the fruit of “dialogue.”

Saint Paul presents the same idea as our Lord in today's epistle, but on a very personal basis.[5] He asks us to look at the fruits of our own lives. Are we “yielding fruit unto sanctification and life everlasting”? Or are we “yielding fruit of which we should be ashamed”?[6] Are we “yielding fruit” which brings suffering, sickness, and eternal death?

We are reminded that God made us for a purpose—and that purpose is His glorification. “God made us to show forth His goodness in this world and to be happy with Him in the next.”[7] He gave us free will, so that we can act freely and demonstrate His goodness. If we misuse our free will, selfishly acting against His will, we are acting against our own reason for existing.

So, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's' clothing.” Both in public and in private life, the rule is the same: “By their fruits you will know them”; and by our own fruits we will be known. And that fruit, in order to be judged good, must, without exception, be a fruit in conformity with the will of Almighty God.

And, “if you are set free from sin,
and become slaves of Almighty God,
You will have your fruit unto sanctification,
and as your end: Life Everlasting.”[8]

[1] Gospel: Matthew vii: 15-21 (Verse 19 cited) http://drbo.org/x/d?b=drl&bk=47&ch=7&l=15-#x

[2] Ibid. Verse 15.

[3] Ibid. Verses 16 and 20.

[4] Ibid. Verse 21

[5] Epistle: Romans vi: 19-23 http://drbo.org/x/d?b=drl&bk=52&ch=6&l=19-#x

[6] Ibid. Verse 21.

[7] Baltimore Catechism, Q3. https://www.catholicity.com/baltimore-catechism/lesson01.html

[8] Epistle Ibid. Verse 22