person draws evil things from the evil stored in his heart. For the mouth speaks from the fullness
of the heart.

Why do you call me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what the one is like,
who comes to me, and listens to my words, and acts accordingly. That person is like the builder
who dug deep, and laid the foundations of his house on rock. The river overflowed, and the stream
dashed against the house, but could not carry it off because the house had been well built.

But the one who listens and does not act, is like a man who built his house on the ground
without a foundation. The flood burst against it, and the house fell at once: and what a terrible
disaster that was!”

Reflect:

To produce good fruit, a tree must grow healthily. To grow healthily, the tree needs good manure,
optimal water and sunlight.

Thus, producing good fruits is contingent on the constant nourishing
that is provided for the tree. The same applies for the Spirit.

What ensures that our souls are well
-watered and manured? A life of sacraments by which we regularly feed on the grace of Christ. This
is what Paul asks rhetorically, referring to our eucharistic participation: “The cup of blessing that we
bless, is it not a communion with the blood of Christ…?” By remaining in communion with Christ as
a branch is united in communion with the vine, we draw on his Spirit and produce the fruits of the
Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23). Without him, we can do nothing (cf. Jn 5:5).

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022