Morning Message: June 2

Today’s reading is from a letter that St. Paul wrote to early Christians.  He tells them of the wonderful qualities we experience when we follow Jesus’ commandment to love one another.  St. Paul calls these qualities the “fruit of the Spirit.” 

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Think about this silently in your heart.  Pray that you give and receive love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness today.

How many of you love fruit?  I love fruit.   Fruit not only tastes good, but it is also good for you.  Take an orange, for example, it is sweet and juicy and has a lot of vitamin C.  Vitamin C helps to prevent colds, runny noses, and sore throat.   Apples are good for you too.  I've always heard that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."  When you are looking for something special to take to your favorite teacher, an apple is a good choice.  Surely you have heard of "An apple for the teacher."

Our reading today was about fruit.  No, we aren't talking about apples and oranges.  It is about a different kind of fruit -- the fruit of the Spirit.  We are talking about the way we act when we put our faith in Jesus, ask him to forgive us of our sins, and promise to be his followers. The Bible tells us that when we do that, the Holy Spirit fills us with God's love and produces some good fruit in our life.

If you see an apple tree, what do you expect to find on that tree?  Apples!  Well, when you see someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit, you expect to see what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit.  What is that?  It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  That is some good fruit, isn't it?

Are you always patient?  Are you always gentle and kind?  No, there will be times when you fail.  When you fail, ask God to forgive you and fill you with his Spirit so that you will produce the kind of fruit that he wants to see in your life.

Loving God, help us to open our hearts, and receive the gifts of the Spirit so that we might love one another as Jesus taught us.  Fill us with your spirit so that we will show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.