Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 25, 2025
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves.
By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them.”
One day, I watched as my two-year-old son playfully crawled around my six-month-old son. Rather than get upset, my baby simply locked his eyes on me and remained calm. In light of today’s gospel, I am reminded by this little baby of an infinite truth: if my eyes are locked on Jesus, the source of all life, I can remain calm wherever I am.
Jesus says, “Every good tree bears good fruit and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.” What distinguishes a good tree from a rotten one? Connection to life sources. A tree planted in poor soil, with little sunlight, and a lack of water will result in a rotten tree. Like trees, we must be connected to good life sources in order to bear good fruit.
What is this source of life? Jesus! Jesus says, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) Only through opening ourselves up to Christ and allowing him to fill us can we bear good fruit.
How do we do this? Quite literally, through the Eucharist. We consume Christ in the Eucharist, and he permeates our beings. It doesn’t make sense to our human minds, and Christ even addresses this in the gospels. (Jn 6:53-67) But Jesus is the source. Let’s go to him as often as we can! Through this, we empty ourselves of our pride and fill ourselves with Jesus. Only then will we bear good fruit. Only then will others know we are not false prophets, but prophets of the truth.
Prayer
Holy Spirit of God, help us discern wisely so that we might recognize you in all your manifestations and not be deceived by false prophets. Free us from all pretense and deceptiveness. Help us too, dear God, to represent you truly in our dealings with others, so that they might not be deceived and will see in us your love, truth, and deep care. May we always be who you created us to be—your image and likeness. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Eurosia is a local saint of Jaca, a Spanish town in the Pyrenees. Devotion to St. Eurosia has always centered around Jaca, but it spread into Northern Italy during the Middle Ages. As the Italian painting of her to the left demonstrates, place has always played an important part of Eruosia's images.
Eurosia's date of birth is unknown. Different legends cite the date of death from anywhere from the early eighth century to the late ninth century.
Eurosia's cult developed at a time of great animosity in northern Spain towards the southern, Muslim half of Spain. Eurosia was believed to have been either a French or Bohemian princess who was promised in marriage to a nobleman from the south.
Eurosia did not wish to marry, particularly since she did not want to marry a non-Christian, but rather wished to live her life in devotion to God. She ran away from her husband and escaped into the Pyrenees.
She was pursued and caught, but Eurosia invoked the help of heaven and a lightning bolt struck some of her captors. Eurosia was quickly executed, her limbs cut off, and beheaded.
Devotion to Eurosia grew when a shepherd discovered her relics in the eleventh century. As Jaca was a stop on the wildly popular Camino de Santiago, Eurosia grew in popularity, due to the steady stream of pilgrims visiting her relics. Perhaps it was due to pilgrims seeking spiritual healing or restoration that she became the patron intercessor of those experiencing demonic possession. Pope Leo XIII affirmed her cult in 1902.
St. Eurosia, intercessor for those who suffer from demonic possession—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Eurosia is in the public domain. Last accessed March 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
