Blessed Virgin Mary 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

This saying is true an worthy of belief:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Because of that I was forgiven; Christ Jesus wanted to display his utmost patience so that I might be an example for all who are to believe and obtain  eternal life.

To the King of ages, the only God who lives beyond every perishable and visible creation ── to him be honor and glory forever. Amen!

 

Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a & 6-7

Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

Luke 6:43-49

No healthy tree bears bad fruit, no poor tree bears good fruit. And each tree is known by the fruit it bears: you don’t gather figs from thorns, or grapes from brambles.

Similarly the good person draws good things from the good stored in the heart, and an evil person draws evil things from the evil stored in the heart. For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart.

Why do you call me: ‘Lord! Lord!’and not do what I say? I will show you what the one who comes to me and listens to my words and acts accordingly, is like. That one 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!”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Thoughts generate words and words generate action. What lies deep at the center of our being is manifested to the physical world by our words and actions. They can disclose what we have inside us, or what we lack, because words sometimes supply what is lacking in reality.

That is why Jesus tells us that it is impossible for a healthy tree to produce bad fruit and vice-versa. A  good person can pretend to be bad, and a bad person can pretend to be good. But they cannot remain consistent in their actions all the time. Sooner or later, the truth will come out.

For even if we can manipulate our words and actions, still the body will not lie. And so, to bear good fruit, we need first to listen to God's word. Just as Mary produced the best human there is possible, our Lord Jesus Christ, when she listened and believed in God's word, so shall we produce abundant goodness in our lives by imitating her docility to God's word.

We build ourselves a strong foundation by our actions. It can withstand the scrutiny of time. We can rest secure in our achievements that begin and end in God.