Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (6: 43-49) in which Jesus says, ‘A good person draws what is good from the store of goodness in their heart; a bad person draws bad from the store of badness; for a person’s words flow out of what fills their heart’.

Today, Fr Paul says, we hear the second of the warnings Jesus gives as this Sermon on the Plain comes to an end.  In this Gospel, there are two images used; the first is the fruit tree; and the second is the flood.

We see the whole concept of positive and negative expressed in this Gospel. Right in the middle, says Fr Paul, is the key question we need to focus on… ‘Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?’.  The question is a sad reflection on the stubbornness of those listening to Jesus.  They come and listen but do not act.  They do not do what Jesus instructs them to do.

For our reflection today, Fr Paul asks, ‘Do I let my own stubbornness stop me from doing what Jesus wants?’