For chapel today we are looking back at a morning prayer service from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. from June 23, 2021. It’s a timely message and one that is good to hear anytime. Rev. Duncan encourages us to bear Good Fruit!  Below the video are some thoughts and questions for reflection or discussion.

The Text for the message is:

Matthew 7:15-20

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Some thoughts and questions for reflection:

• The world is complicated. Sometimes it is hard to know what to believe and who to trust. The text from Matthew that is discussed suggests that looking at results of peoples words and actions will truly show their character.
  1. Can you think of a time when you were not sure if you should trust someone?
  2. Have you ever trusted the wrong person? How did you find out it was a mistake?
  3. What about those times where it worked out good. How did you realize your trust was well placed.

• The second line of reflection is given really clearly right at the end of Rev. Duncan’s message. Everyone wants to say they are a good person, and be thought of that way. But do we act in ways that show we are good and trustworthy? She suggests that we all need to look in the mirror and “check our fruit”. She suggests these questions and they are good questions for reflection and discussion:
  
  
  1. In what areas of my life am I basically a good tree? (what is something good you have done lately?)
  2. Am I a “tree” that strives to produce good fruit? (How hard do I really try to do good things for others and myself?)
  3. Where in my life am I struggling to produce good fruit? (What are the ways I usually mess up and don’t do good things? Are there patterns? How can I improve?)

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