In the Spirit of Feria III after the VII Sunday after Pentecost
As we reflect on the readings for Feria III after the VII Sunday after Pentecost, Romans 6:19-23 and Matthew 7:15-21 present a profound meditation on the nature of righteousness and the vigilance required in the Christian life. These passages, illuminated by the wisdom of the Church Fathers, offer us timeless guidance on our spiritual journey.
Romans 6:19-23: The Call to Holiness
In Romans 6:19-23, St. Paul contrasts the servitude to sin with the servitude to righteousness:
“For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
St. Paul vividly portrays the transformative power of grace. The Fathers of the Church echo this sentiment. St. Augustine, in his “Confessions,” speaks of his own experience of turning from sin to righteousness:
“How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose! … You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure” (Confessions, IX, 1).
St. Augustine’s testimony reinforces St. Paul’s teaching: the fruits of righteousness lead to sanctification and eternal life, in stark contrast to the deathly wages of sin.
Matthew 7:15-21: Discernment and True Righteousness
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 7:15-21, our Lord warns us:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 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. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
This passage emphasizes the necessity of discernment and the evidence of true faith manifested in good works. St. John Chrysostom, in his “Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew,” elaborates on this:
“Let us not trust the sheep’s clothing, but look to the wolf within. For it is possible for a time to disguise a hypocritical life, but not to continue in it perpetually; for, as time goes on, it shows what it is, and it puts off the mask” (Homily 23).
St. Chrysostom reminds us that genuine righteousness cannot be faked indefinitely; it reveals itself through consistent, good fruit. Our actions, stemming from our true nature, ultimately disclose our inner state.
Integrating the Teachings
Together, these passages urge us to examine the fruits of our lives. Are we slaves to righteousness, bearing the fruits of sanctification, as St. Paul exhorts? Are we vigilant against false prophets and careful to bear good fruit, as Christ warns?
The Church Fathers consistently call us to authenticity in our faith. St. Gregory the Great, in his “Pastoral Rule,” advises:
“Pastors should be careful that they always recognize the wolf, no matter how he disguises himself in sheep’s clothing. For often the wolf seizes a position of authority in the church and uses it to ravage the flock.”
This vigilance is not only for pastors but for all believers. We are to discern the true nature of our influences and our own hearts, ensuring that we follow Christ with genuine commitment.
Conclusion
As we meditate on these scriptures and the insights of the Church Fathers, let us commit ourselves anew to the path of righteousness. Let us present our members as instruments of righteousness, producing the good fruit of sanctification. Let us be ever watchful, discerning true prophets from false, and ensuring that our lives reflect the true discipleship of Christ. In doing so, we will be on the path that leads to eternal life, the free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.