Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Descendants and Fruits
In the first reading, the LORD makes a covenant with Abram, promising to give him his own descendants and his own land. But before they make a covenant (a solemn pact), Abram expresses his doubt about how this can be. He does not have an heir. The land he is in is not his own. But the LORD reassures him:

“‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,’ he added, ‘shall your descendants be.’”

Not only will Abram have a descendant of his own, he will have innumerable descendants—as many as the stars in the sky. God wants to make many nations out of Abram. Forgetting his doubts, Abram believes the LORD, who ascribes it to him as a virtuous act.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus preaches to his disciples, forewarning them about false prophets. They are familiar with the hazard. Moses had warned the ancient Israelites not to follow after a prophet who claims a sign to be from a god other than the LORD. (See Deuteronomy 13:2-6) Jeremiah had to compete with false prophets who even declared themselves as speaking in the name of the LORD. (See Jeremiah 14:14) But Jesus gives his disciples a new way to test any prophet:

“By their fruits you will know them.”

He appeals to how a fruit tree works: every good tree produces good fruit, and every rotten tree produces rotten fruit. It is a fail-safe test: a good tree cannot produce rotten fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. And on Judgment Day: rotten trees will be cut down and thrown into the fire, while good trees will be pruned so that they bear more fruit. (See John 15:2)

Reflection: I find it difficult (and somewhat contrived) to try to tie together the first reading and the Gospel. Sometimes it is obvious; other times it is not. Each reading can hold a lesson for us by itself. But perhaps the Gospel Acclamation today provides a link, which I will leave you to make: “Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.” (John 15:4a, 5b)

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB