Cycle A Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the first reading we hear of the prophet Elisha who had been treated graciously asking God to reward his hosts for their generosity. Many times, while growing up children are instructed by their parents to say, “Thank You.” No doubt when her child was born, she would have said as we do in the Psalm today, “I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” The woman who welcomed the prophet did so out of genuine hospitality, not because she would get something in return.
I knew a man who volunteered for United Way only because his boss did, and he saw it as a way to get a promotion. How often do we do something only because we will get a benefit.
In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that we need to be doing good things but also that we need to be doing the good for the right reason. Doing something for the wrong reason cheapens our actions and makes us less rather than greater. When Jesus talks about the fruit that his disciples will bear, he also says to make sure the fruit is good fruit and not rotten fruit. Many vines may produce berries, but not all make a good wine.