Years ago, a priest planted a pomelo seedling from Davao in our convent here in Laguna. Davao pomelos are known for their distinct sweetness. That priest probably hoped to have a steady supply of sweet pomelos in the convent's backyard. Years later, the seedlings grew into vigorous trees and began to bear fruits. But to the disappointment of our community, the pomelos they bore are sour. We inquired, among ourselves, for the possible reason why a tree which originated from a sweet stock would bear sour fruits. A brother priest who studied forestry commented, "It is because of the climate and soil." The climate and the type of soil in Laguna are not of the same quality with that of Davao which produces sweet pomelos. Different soil produces different quality of fruits.
Like trees and plants, we also bear fruits through our thoughts, words, deeds, and way of life. Our speeches reveal the bent of our minds (1 Sirach 27:4-7). Our choice of words discloses our character. Lascivious words can only come from lewd persons. Kind and charitable deeds originate from hearts touched by the same kind of love. What comes out of us, whether in speech or action, speaks of what is inside of us; our character; the real us. St. John Chrysostom said: But although the fruit is caused by the tree, yet it brings to us the knowledge of the tree, because the distinctive nature of the tree is made evident by the fruit, as it follows. For every tree is known by its fruit (Hom. 42. on Matt.).
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had. Pomelo trees can bear sweet fruits if planted in the right type of soil, provided with the right amount of sunshine and rain, not disregarding, of course, the good stock from which it originates. To begin with, God created us. He is our origin. Made in His image and likeness, we teem with goodness and possibilities for greatness. Christ has defeated the adversaries in our life that may harm us: Death (and sin) is swallowed up in victory. “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). But how have we nurtured ourselves? Have we become firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord? Have we borne the copious fruits that our Origin bears?
Our heart is the ground on which our innermost being is planted. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as created in the image of God, we live in relation: it is the place of covenant (CCC 2563). Thus from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Be careful with your hearts, therefore, for it is a sacred ground that will determine whether we bear sweet or sour fruits. Corrupt hearts cannot but bear corrupt words and deeds. Gentle hearts can only give tenderness. How do we nourish this ground to make it a fertile and rich one, apt to grow our life and produce delightful fruits? How do we form our hearts where we sink the roots of our being?
Fertilize. A ground becomes rich as it is fertilized with compost blended with nutrients (from rotten manure or chopped leaves). The ground of our heart can be enriched by the Word of God and by the graces we receive through the sacraments. The counsels of God can moisten our hearts that may have grown arid due to frustrations and tiredness in life. Our hearts can hold His promises as treasures from which we can draw nourishment as we bear fruit. God is the treasure of our hearts.
Uproot wild grass. As the ground is exposed from other vegetation, undesirable plants grow with it such as wild grass. It is imperative that these unwanted plants be uprooted, for they will compete for nutrients and energy with your plants. Sins are the unwelcomed plants in the ground of our hearts. They may preoccupy us and consume much of our energy to useless activities. Uproot them! Repentance and conversion can be our sure way to do so. Christ established the sacrament of penance as our ordinary way to cleanse our hearts. Thus, approach the sacrament of reconciliation frequently so that sins may be discarded from our hearts. Chop off these sins and learn from them. Lessons learned from our transgressions can also fertilize our life.
Till the ground of your heart. An untilled soil hardens, preventing air, water, and nutrients from reaching the plants. Our hearts are tilled as we assume difficult responsibilities that are entailed by our identity as Christians. It is tempting to maintain the status quo in which we have grown accustomed to. Welcome new things and challenges that may shake our grounds. They give us the opportunity to bring out the best in us that could have rather been stored and kept in the darkness of a hardened heart.
With the richness of the ground of our hearts where the roots of our being can sink, we can be assured of a life lived in integrity. If we are enriched by God's words and gain full sight of His will, we will not be afraid to guide blind persons, for we are assured of our sight. If we constantly uproot our sins from our hearts, we can be credible to point out the slight or great faults of our neighbor which are blocking their sight for what is good. The integrity; wholeness and fulfillment of our hearts depends on how we have formed this sacred ground on which we grow ourselves. Unlike a dry and unhealthy ground, a well-formed heart gives no occasion for pretension but only for an integral life bearing copious fruits, faithful to the stock of its origin.
Today, the pomelo trees in our convent still stand. Though they continue to bear fruits, no one among us dare to taste their fruits again for they remain sour. Their fruits simply rot on the ground. One of these days, perhaps I will try to enrich the ground in which they are planted and hope that one day, they will bear sweet pomelos similar to the ones their original stock bore.
May no one among us bear sour fruits that rot on the ground, but only sweet fruits that give true delight to everyone.
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