Thoughts for the Day

‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Twelve years ago I planted four patio trees on a tiny piece of land in the garden. The two apples were cordoned, and the cherry and the pear tree planted normally. It was a mixed success. The red apple tree (no idea what it was called) produced a lot of beautiful apples very quickly. The green apple tree which was squished between two trees didn't have much light, and only produced a few apples. The cherry tree bolted thinking it was a normal tree and quickly took up all the moisture and light and the birds ate all the cherries. And the pear tree at the bottom of the patch, overwhelmed by the cherry tree and quickly smothered in weeds and rubbish, simply looked like a stick in the ground.

We too are like these fruit trees. As Christians we need to grow strong roots by reading our bibles and learning about our faith; we need to be fed by God's Spirit; and we need to continue to grow in faith - to be nurtured by other Christians. Then we shall produced good fruit in our lives, showing evidence of love in all that we do.

In these days as we reflect on the life of Queen Elizabeth II we can have no better example of someone who exemplifies Jesus' words that the 'good person produces good fruit'. She gave her whole life to her people and to the Commonwealth in generous love.

Lord God,
enable us to grow strong roots,
and to learn more about our faith.
May we be open to Your Spirit
so that we can be fed by You;
and may we worship You often
in communion with others,
so that we may produce good fruit.
Amen.