A WORD FOR TODAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2022

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*THE FRUITS YOU BEAR WILL SHOW WHERE YOU BELONG AND WHOM YOU SERVE.*

_"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."(Luke 6:45)_

_*When you plant a tree, you expect it to bear fruits in due season when it has matured, but if this is not the case, you will definitely feel bad and conclude that something is wrong somehere.*_

_The spiritual life we live in Christ is characterized by bearing fruits. Jesus has chosen us as friends and His disciples to go out into the world and bear lasting fruits for him.(John 15:16)_

_*It is the fruit we bear by the kind of behaviour and attitude we portray that will show the world where we belong and whom we serve. We cannot hide from being seen, the things we do will show whether we are for Christ or for the devil.*_

_In bearing fruits for Christ we must strive to avoid syncretism just as St. Paul warns the people of Corinth in the first reading. If you are for Christ, you must show it and love Him alone, without mixing it with idol worship. You cannot offer sacrice to idol and also come to offer same to God. You cannot drink from the table of demons and also come to partake of the table of the Lord. Your lifestyle will be confusing and cannot inspire goodness in people._

_*A true disciple of Jesus is the one who builds his house upon the rock who is Christ. He lives out the gospel message and strives everyday to be like Christ in all things and to keep His commandments. He is constantly striving to shine out as the light and runs away from everything and anyone that represents darkness.*_

_If you feed your soul with God's word and grow in holiness, the words that will come out of your mouth will be edifying and inspiring, but when this is not the case, it will demoralize and scandalize people. Hear God's word everyday and put them into practice and in that way you will be firm in your faith and will not be led astray by those who do not love God._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a lovely day. May Jesys give you the grace to bear good fruits for Him. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you:the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Corinthians 10:14-22/Psalm 116:12-13,17-18/Luke 6:43-49

*Watch-Word:* If a man loves me, he will keep my word says the Lord.

*Good fruits come from a heart rooted in Christ. Is your heart rooted in Christ or is it paying allegiance to the evil one?*

(Saturday of the twenty-third week in the ordinary time. Year II)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*