There is an old idiom that says, “You reap what you sow.” Even Jesus remarked, “Any sound tree bears good fruit, while a decayed tree bears bad fruit.” (Matt 7:18) However, when you look around society today, we  struggle to see where that natural justice is taking place. It can be very discouraging and make us wonder why we should try and do good in our lives.

Psalm 73 shows us that even in ancient times, there was a similar feeling:  

But, as for me, I almost lost my balance; 
My feet all but slipped.
Because I was envious of the arrogant
When I saw them prosper though they were wicked.
Psalm 73:2-3

When we see those openly mocking God and living in ways that go against His teachings being acclaimed and considered social heroes, it can cause us to doubt ourselves and our beliefs. Then if we speak out against their words and actions, we quickly become the target of viciousness and spite! It’s like the tables are turned and we are the transgressors, because we speak contrary to their words and deeds. When the world seems to be upside down and the opposite of what it should be, it can be very easy to slip and lose our footing! 

The analogy of plants and trees may have a deeper meaning than just the surface of the words. It takes time for seeds to grow into plants. And it takes time for a tree to produce the blossom before it becomes a fruit. We can’t expect immediate repercussions to occur each time a person says or does something evil that is celebrated in our secular society. And likewise, we can’t expect to be showered with blessings just because we do a singlar good deed. For most plants and all fruit trees, they don’t produce a single item, but rather many. When we reap what we sow, it is not just a single instant of our lives that determines what we reap, but rather the whole of it. If our entire life parallels a single growing season of a tree, how much fruit would be on it?

Another consideration we need to keep in mind is that our world is very materialistic and repeatedly glorifies what is objectionable to God. Jesus tells us we need to pick up our cross and follow Him, not pick up our bouquet of roses and dance happily down the yellow brick road. It may appear that the wicked are prospering, but that is the image they hope to portray. They may even be deceiving themselves by focusing on the accolades they receive. We are called to live in this world, but not to be OF this world; which is to say that we do not look at our time on earth as the only existence we have. As Catholic Christians, we believe in heaven and the resurrection of the dead, and the consequences of our actions during our lives will impact more than just however many years we live on earth. We also recognize that our actions also impact the lives of those with whom we live, work, and interface.

Lastly, we are all sinners in some way and we will need to atone for those sins either here and now or in purgatory. When we practice doing good, we learn how to be aware of those around us. Sometimes good is actually doing something or helping another. Other times, it can be in not doing something, like repeating a piece of gossip that we’ve heard. When we follow Jesus’ example, we are training ourselves to be the bearer of good fruits. We may stumble from time to time, but we can, through the mercy of God, repent and do penance for our faults to lessen the impact of our sins. By having a relationship with God, He can prune away the dead, sinful branches within us, so that only the healthy, life-giving plant remains.

It’s very tempting to compare our situations with others who seemingly have it easy, even though they rail against the will of God. However, if we strive to always have a relationship with God, repenting when we falter, He will prosper us, if not in this time and place, then surely in heaven where we will see Him face to face.