Tuesday, June 27, 2023

If you call yourself a Christian, live it!

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 12th week in Ordinary time

June 28, 2023 - Genesis 15: 1-12,17-18; Matthew 7: 15-20

The Tree and the Fruits - an interesting analogy for life! 

Abraham, was a man of God, he was the father of the covenantal people! Abraham listened, obeyed, believed and remained loyal to the Lord who called him. The Covenant the Lord made was the tree and Abraham's life choices were the fruits. The eternal covenant that is made in the blood of Jesus Christ, is the guarantee of the grace and the gift of faith within us. 

While it is God's action that God has transformed us into God's children in our baptism, our daily life and regular choices have to bear fruits that will make it visible to the world and to ourselves. An anonymous author reminds us, 'you may be the only gospel that some one reads! So be careful with the way you live your life!' I am a Christian not merely in my activities and responsibilities; but in every choice of mine, every thought and expression of it, every word and deed at every moment of my life. 

Consider this question once a preacher posed during a retreat: 'if today they detain you for being a Christian, will they find enough evidence in you to implicate you?' A powerful question, extremely simple in its categorical demand that before you call yourself a Christian, live it! You do not call yourself so and them expect everyone to know by that name; you live it first, and automatically people would call you by that name - the tree is known by its fruits!