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A Christian is recognized by his works. 16. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Listen to these words of the Master, all of you who reject the Spiritist doctrine as the work of the devil. Open your ears, for the time has come to listen. Is it enough to wear the Lord’s uniform to be His faithful servant? Is it enough to say, ‘I am a Christian,’ for someone to be a follower of Christ? Look for true Christians and you will recognize them by their works. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” — “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” These are the Master’s words. Disciples of Christ, understand them well! What fruits should the tree of Christianity bear, a mighty tree whose leafy branches shade part of the world but which do not yet shelter all those who gather around it? The fruits of the tree of life are fruits of life, hope and faith. Christianity, as it did many centuries ago, continues to preach these divine virtues; it strives to spread its fruits, but how few gather them! The tree is always good, but its gardeners are bad. They have tried to mold it according to their ideas; to shape it according to their needs; they have cut it, diminished it, mutilated it; rendered sterile, its branches do not bear bad fruit, because they no longer produce any. The thirsty traveler, who stops beneath its branches in search of the fruit of hope, capable of restoring his strength and courage, sees only a dry branch, foretelling a storm. In vain he asks the tree of life for the fruit of life; its leaves fall dry; man's hand has stirred them so much that they have withered. Open your ears and hearts, my beloved ones! Cultivate this tree of life, whose fruits give eternal life. He who planted it urges you to treat it with love, and you will yet see it bear its divine fruits in abundance. Preserve it as Christ gave it to you: do not mutilate it; it wants to cast its immense shadow over the universe: do not cut its branches. Its beneficial fruits fall in abundance to feed the hungry traveler who wishes to reach the end of his journey; do not pile up these fruits, to store them and let them rot, so that they will be of no use to anyone. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” For there are hoarders of the bread of life, just as there are of material bread. Do not be among them; the tree that bears good fruit must give it to everyone. Go, then, and seek out those who are hungry; take them under the branches of the tree and share with them the shelter it offers. — “One does not gather grapes from thornbushes.” My brothers, turn away from those who call you to show you the briers of the road; follow those who lead you to the shade of the tree of life. The divine Savior, the just one par excellence, said, and his words will not pass away: “Not all who say, ‘Lord! Lord!’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven; only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven shall enter.” May the Lord of blessings bless you; may the God of light enlighten you; may the tree of life offer you its fruits abundantly! Believe and pray. Simeon. Bordeaux, 1863