(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: https://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Mass-Blog-for-the-33rd-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2025.mp3)
Many trees have given their lives to put Bibles in our hands. So it’s only fair that trees figure prominently throughout the Bible’s pages to help tell its truths—starting in Genesis with the forbidden fruit of the Knowledge Tree, to the gospels which tell of the life-giving fruit of Mary’s womb, which was nailed to a dead tree for our salvation.
The prophets and saints enabled much cross-pollination between the Old and New Testaments, inspiring food for contemplation and nourishment throughout the ages. This Sunday’s readings offer much food for thought.
The prophet Malachi warns the potential deadwood among us away from the destructive fruit of pride Satan talked Adam and Eve into consuming (Malachi 3:19-20a):
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.
But in Luke’s gospel, the Son of Justice who continues to feed us 21st Centurions with his very self warns us away from fear and toward the fruit of wisdom sprouting from the souls he nourishes. Be like the fig tree he describes, and let God’s nature tell you when it’s time for His harvest:
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:5-31).
In the meantime, we are called to share the fruit Jesus’ Mother Mary gave us to counteract the poison of Eve’s fruit. That takes some labor on our part, requiring the work ethic Paul and succeeding generations of disciples modeled for us (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12):
“We wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us,” Paul tells us this Sunday. “In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat….Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.”
Our own food is the fruit of Calvary’s tree. Harvest your cross.
–Tom Andel
(Author’s note: For a short meditation on the fruit we choose to nourish us, click here to see a short video from fellow Brother in Christ Jerry Veres.)
Your blog along with the attached video makes a solid correlation on the fruit of the womb that provides nourishment leading to everlasting life.
For He said “my body is true food, and my blood is true drink.” For unless you eat my body and drink my blood you have no life in you.
It’s all about the Eucharist!!
Consuming that food and drink is as much our testimony as is living His gospel.