This is a wonderful homily based on the readings for today, Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (Lectionary: 373).
Deacon David Beach serves at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois.
Here is the Gospel reading:
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.”
Homily – June 25, 2025 – 7 am mass
The pursuit of holiness in our lives is, at its essence, ordering our lives to what is good and what is true. Easier said than done.
Jesus warns us in the gospel today to be wary of voices that would lead us astray. We must be discerning around those who would deceive us. And to judge their actions by whether or not their lives bear good fruit. Good fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Recent weekday gospels, and indeed all of scripture strives to teach us how to navigate our world; to order our lives to what is good and what is true in order to produce these good fruits of the spirit.
We were warned last week not to be like the hypocrites who act virtuous but in their hearts are seeking the praise of men not the worship of God. And this week we were told not to be judgmental of others if we do not wish to be judged. Not to gossip. And today, we are told to be discerning of the motives of others. Not everyone will have our best interest at heart.
The passage in Matthew’s gospel that precedes our reading today is helpful for context. Jesus tells us:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Jesus tells us that the path to holiness, to what is good and true is hard and that few will find it. We should not take his words lightly or underestimate the difficulty of what will be required of us – So what should be our way of proceeding in order to persevere? To become what is good and true we must surround our lives and immerse ourselves in what is good and true.
- Continuing our practice of prayer, study of scripture- listening in silence to God’s voice in our lives, performing works of mercy and of charity and receiving the sacraments seeking the strength of his grace,
- Surrounding ourselves and spending time with those people who strive for virtue, who share our faith and though imperfect draw us forward
- Finally, perhaps to immerse ourselves more in God’s creation- to spend time in nature, To read great literature, to listen to great music that inspires and lifts our hearts and minds toward the good, toward what is true and beautiful. Toward God.
Through these practices in our daily life we strengthen ourselves to persevere
As we prepare to receive Jesus at the altar this morning let us ask him to guide us, to surround us with holy people, to immerse ourselves more in God’s creation strengthening us to respond to his grace, bearing good fruit by choosing what is good, what is true, one day at a time, one choice at a time throughout our lives and by doing so enable us to enter through the narrow gate. And to hopefully become an example and a source of strength to those around us inspiring them to do the same.
Leave a Reply