Word to the Wise
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - Wednesday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time
[2 Kings 22:8-13 and Matthew 7:15-20]A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.
This passage goes straight to the heart of human conduct. A person of good character and integrity is going to behave in accord with that. A person lacking in those qualities will behave badly. In the case of today's passage, the reference is to various itinerant preachers who were common in the early days of Christianity. But the wisdom in Jesus' words applies to all humans. The subject has become an issue in the field of teaching bioethics because it has been noticed that some caregivers were acting only in conformity with institutional rules and had no interest in the care they were giving. In short, their understanding of the difference between right and wrong was based not on an overarching value system but only on what was permitted or prohibited by hospital policy!! The result inevitably is a deterioration in the level of care given. "By their fruits you will know them." Recent scandals in business like those of Enron or the sub-prime mortgage collapse indicate also a tendency to see how far one can go in manipulating a system for financial gain rather than assisting people. Political scandals are almost too common to mention, except to serve again as a reason for carefully examining not just a voting record in congress or a leadership record as a governor of a state. A person's relationships with lobbyists or other influence-seeking individuals are an example of the fruit that is being borne! A person of poor character or integrity may indeed be a very skillful individual, but how they use those skills will inevitably be very questionable. Even persons of good character and integrity are human and subject to failure. But the difference comes in seeking forgiveness and not repeating the mistake. The seedy and sleazy behavior that so often shows up in political, commercial and yes, religious institutions has its roots in original sin and leads to ambition and greed. The ultimate sin for them is in getting caught and not in repenting. The Sermon on the Mount is a reminder to us to demand character and integrity in public and religious leadership first. The good deeds will follow! By their fruits you will know them. AMEN
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