Today’s second reading from St. James tells us that God’s wisdom is pure, and is full of good fruits and righteousness that are sown in peace. It is gentle and merciful. We are then cautioned that the conflicts and wars in our lives come not from God, but from our own passions and desires. When we pray and petition the Lord, we should not ask for ourselves, but rather ask that God’s peaceful and tender will be done.

Today’s first reading is from the Book of Wisdom, and reminds us that the son of God is against our transgressions. Those who question him say that he claims to be right and just, but is he truly right and just? They decide to put him to the test, and make him prove his patience and gentleness, and probe that he trusts in God and that God will take care of him.

In Psalm 54 the psalmist says that “the haughty have risen up against me and the ruthless seek my life.” He sees that their eyes are not set on God, but trusts that if he acts like Jesus, then God will be his helper and will deliver him from the hands of his foes.

Mark’s gospel recounts how Jesus tells his disciples that the son of man will be handed over to men, and that they will kill him. Jesus does not fight and wage war. He is humble, accepting, and childlike. He comes to us as a servant. He simply asks that his disciples be the same.

We are assured in this week’s readings that God is right and just and pure—that He is full of good fruits that are sown in peace and love. We see that Jesus is kind and gentle and peaceful, compliant and merciful. He asks that we just try to be like him, and to trust in the Father.

So, ARE WE fruitful? Are we good disciples that go forth into our community and show them every day that we too can be gentle and peaceful and merciful? They watch us. They put us to the test. And then they wait to see if we, like Jesus, have in us the fruit of righteousness that is sown in peace. Let’s show them that we are, indeed, fruitful!

Steve Barretto