People speak the things that are in their hearts
People speak the things that are in their hearts
A Gospel Enquiry
The Church celebrates the feast of St Alfred the Great on October 26. Alfred was born in 849 CE. His father was the king of Wessex, in England. A scholar, who translated classics for the people of Wessex, eventually he took his place on the throne as king of Wessex. Most of his reign was spent dealing with conflict with the Danes who threatened England. He succeeded in uniting all of Saxony in England and brought peace to the land. Ever faithful to the Church, he re-established monasteries and founded others. He passed away in 899 CE.
Jesus said, “A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thornbushes, and they don’t get grapes from bushes. Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed.” (Luke 6:43-49 - New Century Version)
SEE
Jesus uses two parables in this Gospel reading. Identify the elements of each parable and then look for the relationship between the two parables.
What does Jesus say about where the good that some people do comes from? And where the bad things that some people do come from?
What does Jesus tell us about the consequences for those who do good things? And those who do bad things?
JUDGE
What do you think about Jesus’ view of people? Where do you fit in Jesus’ view of the reality of society? Are there bad things in your heart that you find difficult to control?
What does your faith tell you about storing good things in your heart? And what does your faith tell you about being someone who stores bad things in their heart? What help does Jesus offer?
Ideally, based on what Jesus reveals through his two parables, what should the world be like?
ACT
What needs to change in the world you know so that people you are concerned about will seek to store good in their hearts, as Jesus teaches in this Gospel?
What simple action can you take over the next week that will contribute to bringing about this change?
Who can you involve in this action and how will you go about involving them?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: https://www.truthforlife.org/devotionals/alistair-begg/9/27/2022/
Worth reading: https://www.jesuswalk.com/luke/020-foundations.htm