Reflection for June 23 Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:15-20

Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20

(Jesus said to his disciples) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

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Reflection:

What is the culture of our world today? It’s the culture of materialism, we tend to have a bias for those who have material wealth. For example, if we are made to choose between a rich and a poor person. We many of us would surely choose the rich because their wealth is their advantage. The poor one will not be chosen even if he is virtues because of his appearance.  

Jesus warns us in the gospel that we must not allow ourselves to be swayed by mere appearance for its often fake and it doesn’t truly represent a person’s true color. Whether we admit it or not, many of us fall into this trap of judging or favoring by mere impression by what is outside and by what we see.  

Let us be discernful and let us not judge by mere appearance for appearance is always deceiving. Let us rather try to be observant even to those who are poor for they are like diamonds in the rough. Their glowing wisdom is not immediately obvious in fact it’s always hidden unless we take time to personally know them.   

Lest we forget that the true worth or character of a person is not measured by his/her material wealth. It’s rather measured by his/her little acts of kindness and love which are always done with the purest of intention. And anybody could do this including the poor ones; they who are always close to Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas