Fruitfulness Is Not Productivity [June 25th, Arbor Day—Philippines]

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hen Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them" (Mt 7:15-20), He was offering His disciples—and us—a timeless lesson in discernment. He wasn’t just speaking about prophets or leaders. He was teaching us how to recognize what is truly of God.

In our world today, it’s easy to be impressed by outward appearances: titles, achievements, the ability to deliver results. We live in an age of productivity—where value is often measured by speed, performance, and output. We ask questions like, “How can we do more?” or “What can we do better?”

But Jesus invites us to go deeper. He redirects our gaze from productivity to fruitfulness—a much quieter, more spiritual reality. Fruitfulness doesn’t come from busyness or ambition. It flows from a life connected to God. It grows in the soil of grace and is nurtured by trust and humility. When we are rooted in the Lord, the fruit begins to show: peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness. These are the signs that the Spirit is alive in someone’s life—not just what they do, but who they are becoming.

The psalmist captures this beautifully in Psalm 92:

“Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God, still bearing fruit when they are old, still full of sap, still green.”

That image brings to mind the great trees—those towering, silent presences in nature that do so much more than bear fruit. A big tree, especially one that has stood for decades, becomes an ecosystem. It offers shade to the weary. Its roots hold the earth together. Its branches become home to birds. Its very existence allows life to thrive around it.

Isn’t this what a truly faithful life looks like?

This is especially true of our elders—those who may no longer be in the spotlight, whose work is done quietly, often invisibly. The world might call them less “productive,” but the Word of God calls them deeply fruitful. Their lives are still full of sap, still green. They don’t just contribute—they sustain the life of the Church.

Pope Francis, in Let Us Dream, speaks of the vital importance of the elderly. He says: “We need a covenant between the young and the old, so that the sap of those with longer memories can nourish the dreams of the young.”

Like great trees, our elders carry the memory of God’s faithfulness. They are storytellers of grace, intercessors for the weary, and companions in suffering. Their very presence is a living testimony that God is good—and has been good all along.

In a society that often forgets the old, the Church must remember. We must treasure not just what people do, but who they are. Let us build communities where the young listen, and the old are honored—not hidden. Because when generations walk together, the Spirit has space to move and bring forth fruit that lasts.

Jesus says, “By their fruits you will know them.” Not by their speed or their skills, not by titles or platforms. But by the holiness and peace they radiate, the lives they touch, the hope they carry. These are the fruits that cannot be faked. In fact, they are scarce.

So let us strive to be like those big trees: planted, rooted, and generous. May our lives bear fruit—not just for ourselves, but for the whole ecosystem of life around us. And may we recognize in our elders not just the past, but the quiet, steadfast presence of God’s living fruit among us. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ