Eighth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Can Rotten Trees Become Good?壞樹可以變好嗎？
Last week, we meditated on what makes human human and Christians Christian. Though rationality has long been held to distinguish human beings from animals, technological advancements have proven that rationality alone is inadequate in making human human because nowadays, artificial intelligence has surpassed our intelligence in solving many problems impossible to solve unaided without using computers. Artificial intelligence forces us to give morality and spirituality a more prominent position in defining humanity.
Throughout ages and cultures, peoples have developed various systems of morality. Broadly speaking, there are three types of moral systems which focus on different aspects of moral behaviours. Some systems focus on the person/agent himself. A moral person should be virtuous and exemplary. Virtues such as beneficence, courage, loyalty, prudence and righteousness etc. can be cultivated through learning and practices. Ancient Greek and Chinese systems were such. Some systems focus on the essence of an action itself. Some actions are intrinsically evil such as killing and lying while some are intrinsically good such as saving life and telling truth. Kantian ethics is one such school of morality. Yet other systems focus on consequences, because all actions carry consequences which affect all people to different extents. Moral actions are those which bring more benefits than costs. Utilitarianism is an example.
All systems have their merits and demerits because moral behaviours have to be considered as a whole, including the person and the consequences. We cannot ignore the motive of the person because the same action, say a donation of 10 million dollar for disaster victims can be morally bad if the motive is for fame and media exposure! Similarly, we cannot ignore the consequence of an action because in some situations, saving one life may endanger a thousand more innocent souls! Yes, it is truly complicated and cannot be handled mechanically.
Bible teachings seem not to approve of utilitarianism. For example, Caiaphas the High Priest who ensured Jesus’ death said in the Sanhedrin, “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish” (John 11:50). Similarly when Judas complained about the waste of anointing Jesus with expensive perfumed oil, he was using the same utilitarian logic which Caiaphas had previously used, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” (12:5) If the Bible does not approve of utilitarianism, how do we harmonize Jesus’ teaching in the gospel today? Isn’t fruit the “consequence” of trees? Doesn’t good fruit prove that the tree is good and good consequences prove that an action is moral?
First of all, though God does not approve of utilitarianism, He permits its promulgation because utilitarianism has its merits. It guides us to consider consequences of an action. As simple as eating and drinking, nowadays we can no longer ignore the effects of over-consumption on the environment and the injustice embedded in production. On the other hand, God is infinite. It costs Him nothing to do anything He wishes. Therefore, the utility formula is not applicable. Furthermore, God is love (1 John 4:8) and whatever God does is good and beneficial to humanity (Genesis 1). His mercy is shown by sending His only begotten Son to die for our transgressions.
Secondly, it was understandable for ancient people to think of fruit as “consequence” of trees. After all, fruit grows from trees, doesn’t it? But nowadays with the advances in molecular biology, it is a mistake to think of fruit as “consequence” of trees and is meaningless to argue whether eggs appear before chickens or vice versa! It is because eggs and chickens, fruit and trees are both manifestations of their DNA for their growth and survival. Therefore, it is scientific for Jesus to say that “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit” (Luke 6:43a). However, we should not ignore the warning which follows immediately, “nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit” (6:43b)
Didn’t God create all things good? Where do rotten trees come from? Yes God created all things good but when the environment deteriorates due to contamination, depletion and mismanagement etc., harm will be done to whatever is living in the habitat. Even good trees begin to rot!
Naturally, we’ll wonder whether it is possible for rotten trees to become good trees again and even better ones. Fortunately, the answer is affirmative.
First of all, rotten trees need external help to become good. They are incapable of helping themselves without external help. “Where shall come our help?” (Psalms 121:1) The Psalter continues, “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (121:2) The Lord is faithful and He shall help when we invoke Him. But He has an even more effective way! He clears a piece of land to transplant His beloved vine there (80:9-10). The gospel of John reveals the most effective way. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower” (John 15:1). By connecting with Jesus Christ, we will surely be able to bear good fruit which shows that we are transformed from rotten to good trees!
It is no secret how it can be done. St. Paul says, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). We put on Christ and, with His accompaniment, we’ll be able to live up to the spirit of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). Moreover, we received the Holy Spirit when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Not only have we received the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3), we are able to bear fruit of the Holy Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a) Through Baptism and Confirmation, Christ elevates us from moral persons to spiritual persons. In other word, in order to redeem humanity, God even modifies our DNA! Rotten trees can become good!
Secondly, all living things will struggle to modify an adverse environment into a favourable one for themselves to thrive. Therefore, we Christians should work together with the Holy Spirit to evangelize so as to improve our living environment. Of course, Christians should be patient in enduring sufferings and persecutions. We should be kind, generous and gentle towards the abusers and pray for them because they are also God’s images. But we need to maintain a favourable environment in which religious freedom is respected and protected. Otherwise, we ourselves will become rotten sooner or later!
Brethren! Trust in our Lord. He will provide and ensure that we bear good fruit. He says, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
God bless!
Photo Credit: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/ZwURD8woo30Uew
2019 Reflection
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