Homily: December 7, 2025, Second Sunday of Advent (Fruitfulness )

 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

This is a stern and strong warning from John the Baptist. For some people, his words cause discomfort and threaten complacency. For those of us who are familiar with farming, we understand perfectly how this works.

In my family farm back in Kerala, we had many fruit trees, mangoes, jackfruit, oranges, coconuts, and more. Each tree had a purpose; we planted it for its fruits or its other usefulness. If a tree was healthy and strong, but produced no fruit year after year, we would cut it down and plant another tree in its place. We didn’t keep any tree simply because it looked good. It was never good enough if it did not fulfil its purpose.

It is the simple reality of farming. No fruit, no purpose, no reason to keep.

The same is true with farm animals. A cow that has stopped producing milk cannot remain in the herd, it would be a waste of resources to feed and care for the cow if it did not do what it was meant to do. There was an expectation of fruitfulness and fulfilment of its purpose, both for the land and the animals entrusted to us.

John the Baptist referenced to that rationale today, not to frighten us, but to warn and wake us. His words sounded harsh and cruel, to be “cut down” and “thrown into the fire.” There is no compassion or gentleness in them. Yet his message is rooted in a deep spiritual truth:

Creation that has life must bear fruit, if not, it is as good as having no life. For us, the crown and pride of God’s creation, must bear fruits that reflect the goodness and essence of our Creator. They are fruits of the Holy Spirit.

In the first reading today, Isaiah speaks of the gifts which the Messiah will possess: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These too are the gifts that the Holy Spirit has been poured into our beings. When we allow these gifts to shape our hearts and our souls, they will produce fruits that show forth the glory of God. From the gifts come the fruits.

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians what some of those fruits are: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, generosity, modesty, and chastity.

They are fruits that emerge from the life breathed into us by God. Twelve fruits which represent the full essence and character of a Christian life.

If we do not nurture these gifts and produce these fruits, we are not fulfilling our purpose. This is when many people find life meaningless and empty, without realizing it is because they are not living out their purpose.

A coconut tree, if not producing coconuts, will have a meaningless life.

When Christ is truly alive in us, we will bear fruits of His Spirit, our lives will be meaningful and purposeful and fulfilling. So in this season of Advent, this season of waiting, we want to do something, not to idle and wait, but to prepare ourselves while waiting, so that when the day comes, we are ready. To prepare, we need to be aware.

Let us ask ourselves: Am I bearing fruits from the gifts I have received from the Holy Spirit?

When others look at me, do they see a barren tree or a fruitful tree? Am I patient, kind, faithful, gentle, self-controlled in my relationships? Am I generous in my giving to others and to the Lord? Is my life modest and pure?

If we think we are barren, don’t despair, let the Holy Spirit prune us, nurture us and strengthen us. Advent is a time to go through that, to be still and to look towards Jesus, like a tree turning always towards the sun.

The farmer in me knows this: If a tree receives the right care, water, pruning, sunlight it will bear fruit in time. And God, the perfect gardener, will help us. He knows we can bear much fruit if we allow Him to do His part, we can fulfil our purpose and live a meaningful life.

Our purpose is the Lord. Our life is the Spirit. Our fruit is hope, peace, joy and love. Amen.