We Know By The Fruit

By: Rick Hernandez

Recognition and Discernment.  These two words, that I envision as sisters, go hand-in-hand, and are main components of my daily life as a Catholic Christian. Opening up to these sisters' guidance, in humility, can help all of us live our earthly lives closer to what God envisions for us. Why is that?
 
Recognition is defined as the identification of someone or something from a previous encounter, experience, or knowledge. In Catholic terms, recognition is related to the application of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and faith.
 
By definition, to recognize we must first learn, and we learn from having experiences and encounters, but only if we pay attention with open and willing minds. Learning recognition requires humility, looking outwards instead of inwards with an appetite for discovery. This appetite for discovery needs to be formed and guided. That formation and guidance is provided by discernment.
 
Discernment is defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that are not obvious or straightforward.
 
In Catholic terms, the "gift of discernment" refers to a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit that allows us to discern the true nature of situations, motivations, and inspirations, essentially enabling us to distinguish between what is of God and what is not, and how to judge good from bad. It is a crucial tool for making sound decisions in our spiritual life.
 
Just as its sister Recognition, Discernment requires our attention. It requires for us to be present in the moment. By living our lives attentively to the present moment, we learn to recognize and discern what is God’s will in our lives “now”, in the big and the small. Let us read from this story of Elijah for a moment:

'“Then the Lord said [to Elijah]: Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord—but the Lord was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound.

When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah”' (1 Kings 19:11-13)
​

Elijah was paying attention. He had knowledge of the Lord from his previous experiences. With humility, he waited at the mountain, open of mind and heart, and he discerned that our Lord was, not in the violence of the wind or in the power of the earthquake, nor in the roar of the fire, but in the gentleness of His whisper to us right now!

In these modern times that we live, where brother is often against brother, we can be easily misled by those who follow the violence of the wind, the power of the earthquake, or the roar of the fire. Have we, after a lifetime of exposure to God’s Word, not learned to recognize His voice instead in the gentleness of His whisper to us? Have we forgotten how to recognize and discern? Or is it that we have failed to learn properly? Where are we getting our positions from?

‘Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?”’ (Luke 6:39)

​Following the example of Elijah’s recognition and discernment, we must also turn to find God in the humble, small, and quiet, in this very moment. Our Lord is loving and compassionate, merciful and kind, just and fair. His individual love for each of us is so great, that He left Himself behind, ever present in the Eucharist, waiting for us to turn back to Him for guidance and assurance. He teaches us when we pay attention, and He speaks to us gently, calmly, and lovingly. He cherishes us! His example to us is clear, we are to give of ourselves to each other and grow to be as our Heavenly Teacher is.

“No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

Evil can disguise itself as righteousness, just as anger can disguise itself as justice. We need to learn to recognize when we are being led away from the teachings of Christ. Let us not be misguided, but instead, put our recognition and discernment skills to work. Let our discernment be guided by the teachings of our Lord. May we remember that:

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45)

We know by the fruit! Let us not become blind by choice, but instead open our eyes and really see.
 
Recognition and discernment are both desperately needed. Let us ask our Lord to open our eyes, hearts, and minds. May He help us discern good from bad. 

Let us pray:

“Today, O God of all days, grant me an experience of your heart. Draw me deep into your very being, into the core of your love for me, others, and the world. Give me a glimpse of others the way you see others: loving them, forgiving them, and delighting in the way they give glory to God through their very existence. Help me to discern out of that open place of deep affection so that I too might be a useful vessel of your love in the world. Amen.” (Discernment Prayer – Author Unknown)
​

Rick Hernandez

Rick Hernandez is a commonsense Catholic, Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Director for Elisheba House. He lives in Trinity, Florida, with his wife Ivonne and their children. He also writes for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's Daily Eucharistic Reflections and for Catholicmom.com.