Matthew 7:18-20
A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
This passage is both intended and read “spiritually.” That is, we know Jesus is not talking about horticulture. He is talking about spiritual fruits. However, it is all too common for us to think “spiritual=disembodied.” Mary proves this wrong. Her good fruit (which was, as it is with all of us, a gift of God) was supremely real, tangible and embodied. In her, the Word became, not a metaphor, or an idea, or another word, but flesh. It is for us to likewise enflesh the word of God in what we do, say, and think. It is for us to bear good fruit as Mary did by bringing into the world another saint conformed to Christ’s image.
By Mark Shea
Mark P. Shea is a Catholic author, blogger, and speaker.
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