26 March, Friday – You will know them by their fruits

Friday of the 5th Week of Lent

Jer 20:10-13
Jn 10:31-42

Even if you do not believe me, believe the works so that you might realize and understand

The concept of ‘frenemies’ is as old as the days of Christ it seems – false friends who pretend to come to your aid, but who in reality, can’t wait till you screw up, so that they can renounce you. Stoning may have gone out of fashion, but gossiping and backstabbing never will. Many of the men looking to persecute Jesus in today’s gospel reading would have witnesssed for themselves the miracles he performed. Some might even have been his followers who, at the first sign of hardship, turned and deserted him. It is heart-breaking when people you think you can count on disappoint you. Jesus may have been able to discern his genuine followers from his fairweather friends, but it would still have hurt him to be betrayed.

Our actions speak volumes about what’s in our hearts. How genuine we are becomes plainly obvious when we are put to the test. Jesus said, even if you don’t believe who I say I am, look at what I have done. “Believe the works, so that you may realize and understand”. In his life’s work there was a consistency. When we look at our own lives, is there a disconnect between our words and our actions? When we reflect on our faith journey, do we find that we often say what we don’t do?

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing… You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20)

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)

Prayer: We pray for the presence of mind to be consistent in our thoughts, in our words, in what we do and what we restrain ourselves from doing.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the examples from Scripture, of men who live, think and speak their convictions.