Picking Fruit

 Yesterday going fruit picking, a favorite summer tradition, with my mom, sisters and sweet nephew reminded me of today's Gospel reading. "...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, not 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" (Matthew 7:15-20). 

This fun summer activity of fruit picking is one that takes some discernment, knowing which fruit is ripe enough and not mushy, worm eaten or torn. And picking comes from the tree branches, not on the dirt ground, though little Santiago thought so. :) This Gospel message rings true in our lives, to know how we can bear good fruit, and if we are. The priest today on his homily stated its about being consistent with our prayer life and our everyday/ordinary life and do they match up? The good fruit and the bad fruit are such contrasts in themselves and its easy to see that while out in the orchards. But sometimes its not so easy to stumble upon within ourselves. It calls for a deeper reflection and self awareness. 

I find it interesting that my former blog title was 'Plum Tree'. It wasn't so much the fruit aspect spiritually or me really liking plums (I prefer pluots),  but more metaphorically speaking (as is common for me:)). And my other blog, 'Say Hello to the Fig Tree' that I sometimes write on, is another deeper meaning, and having to do with 'the fruit of our lives', referring to Jesus not seeing figs on the fig tree and cursing it. It implies further how we should always be striving for holiness in all seasons. 

This past year, there was a lot of pulling, growing, stretching, waiting and pain. It was a growing year that is for sure. But I think coming to the end of it, I see it as fruit growing and blooming. There were many thorns and difficulties but from it sprung a new growth, and a depth I hadn't encountered before. I hope to say that good fruit was being born, cultivated and picked throughout this trying year.