Daily Bible Reflections

September 10, 2011
GOOD FRUIT

“For every tree is known by its own fruit.” – Luke 6:44

My grandfather was a great man. He wrote 2,000 laws for the Philippines and was famous for knowing and upholding the constitution. He was a passionate statesman who sought the good of the country.
When I was young, my grandmother would always want us to include our middle name whenever we wrote our names or introduced ourselves. But I felt I was namedropping. I simply wasn’t comfortable with telling people “who I was.”
Over the past few years, I’ve been called to serve the Lord on a larger scale. During one talk I gave, I was introduced by my full name. After I finished, someone came up to me and asked if I was the grandson of the late Senator Arturo Tolentino. I said yes. She said, “No wonder you speak well. You took after your grandfather.”
Nowadays, I always include my middle name. Because if I do anything good, I want to honor my grandfather by letting people know whom I take after. I want people to know that he bore good fruit.
It also applies to the fact that as a Christian, I carry the name of Christ wherever I go. If I do right, He is glorified.
And so I strive to bring justice to His name. George Tolentino Gabriel (george.svp@gmail.com)

REFLECTION:
What kind of fruit are you?

Lord, may You be glorified in my every thought, word and deed.