Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

A Proud Grandma
at the picnic

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 thorn bushes,
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.

Jesus’ parable offers a straightforward, unsentimental assessment of people. There is no romantic nonsense like, “He’s a good person who makes bad mistakes.” or “We shouldn’t judge people until we’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Following the scriptural tradition, Jesus states “Bad people do bad things and bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Don't kid yourself."

Biblical proverbs don't expect people to change. Isaiah said it simply, “For the fool speaks folly, his heart plans evil.” A fool is always a fool; and a wise person is always wise: …the path of the just is like shining light that grows in brilliance till perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know on what they stumble.

But confusion and perplexity persist. Christians are always trying to decide what to do about the sins, transgressions and foolishness around us. Do we forgive and forget? Offer tough love? Seek reconciliation? Or cut them off completely? Should we expect them to change? Or not? Can we forgive without reconciliation? Can we be civil with criminals, or is that a compromise of our integrity?

Jesus urged Saint Peter to forgive seventy times seven times but such generosity might not preclude prosecution and imprisonment. People keep in touch with their wayward children in jail. Even their victims sometimes search out imprisoned criminals to offer forgiveness and peace. The Gospel can penetrate a prison as well as a hospital, and somewhat better than the tavern.

I knew a couple who returned from a weekend out of town to find every stick of furniture in the house gone. Their son had sold them for drugs; they put him out on the street. Eventually he settled down, and learned a trade. I know another fellow who left the street to become a minister, loved, respected, and reconciled to his family. It just goes to show you never can tell.

In today’s gospel passage Jesus speaks of how to manage the affairs of the church. We can neither risk nor afford crimes in our congregation. Catholics are learning to blow the whistle on alcoholic and abusive priests. Many American churches have decided to prosecute the pastors, managers and volunteers who dipped into the church collection. Looking the other way was too much like collusion; second chances proved disastrous.

... and Grandpa

We must seek wisdom through long experience, prayer, reflection and continual openness to the Holy Spirit. We might never learn how to handle every difficult situation but we can hope that, as a community, we learn to administer both mercy and justice in dealing with our troubles.