"Jesus said ...A good tree does not bear rotten fruit...(Lk 6: 43)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we have the optional memorial Mass for St. John Chrysologus, whose name means “Peter the golden-worded” and the Gospel for this memorial is very appropriate!

Jesus said to his disciples:
"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
**A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, **
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."( Lk 6:43-45)

Where did St. Peter Chrysologus get his “fullness of heart” to be able to produce good words? Jesus reveals His Truth to us in all that He says and does. If we listened carefully, as I believe St. Peter and all the saints, especially the Virgin Mary, listened to Jesus, we heard Him tell us:

Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. (Mt 11:9)

In the First Reading from Ephesians today and in the Responsorial Psalm we hear further encouragement to Listen to God’s Word prayerfully that we may bear good fruit:

From Ephesians 3, St Paul testifies:

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church…

And from the Responsorial Psalm 119 , we hear:

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Jesus open wide our hearts to hear You! Mary Mother of the Church, pray for us.

 

[hazcompat]

We shall be devoted to Mary, then, if we give ourselves entirely to her and through her to God. In so doing we simply imitate God who gives Himself and His Son to us through Mary.

Tanqueray, Adolphe. The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology . TAN Books. Kindle Edition.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Yes, Tanquery is an excellent author. I read his book many years ago. He, like St. Louis de Montfort and many of our Saints and true Spiritual writers, saw Mary’s role in God’s Plan so clearly! However, in today’s world there seem to be fewer and fewer who “pay attention” to all God has revealed in His Incarnate Word conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary for us.

Jesus came to us the first time through Mary and He will come again at the end of time, through Mary! God is consistent!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie,

Thanks again fo your “Faith-Full heart”! Please let us continue to pray for one another that we may, with the psalmist seek the Lord with all whole hearts! (Responsorial psalm 119)