Gospel Reading for September 13, 2025 – Luke 6: 43-49
CONTRIBUTE
Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”
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Children who grow up in dysfunctional families, where parents are abusive and emotionally immature, have mental illness, are into substance abuse, practice wrong parenting, etc., are at high risk of developing mental and psychological problems – low self esteem, lack of trust, depression, anxiety and unhealthy coping mechanisms. More often than not, children are the mirrors of their parents.
Parents who are truly Christian – who listen and act on the words of Jesus, both outside and inside the house, whose children feel they are much loved and cared for, who love all their children equally, and who correct the mistakes of their children in a loving and respectful manner, and who do their best to learn proper parenting, will surely develop children with good health of mind and soul, who will be able to CONTRIBUTE a lot of good to the world as children and as adults.
As is said: You cannot give what you don’t have.
Lord Jesus, may we give utmost value to the power you give us to shape the little ones according to your likeness!
