The Spirit's Fruit. David Moffett-Moore

fruit, it is something we are; as we bear the fruit, we become the fruit. This is the essence of a fruitful life: bearing the fruit to become the fruit.

      We all have issues. The hard truth is that we are all works in progress, as Paul writes, “No one is perfect, no not one... All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”(Rom 3:10, 23) As Hebrews says, we have a “sin that sticks closely to us” (Heb 12:1). Your issue may not be anger; maybe it is sarcasm or selfishness. Jesus tells a parable (Matt 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26) of an evil spirit cast out, wandering around, and returning again with seven other evil spirits because its place was left empty. Focusing on the fruit of the Spirit can be a way for us not only to cast off the evil we don’t want to do, but also to fill our spirit with the goodness of God so the evil cannot return. Focus on the positive helps eliminate the negative!

      A Call to Reflection

      Recall a time when someone was angry with you. How did you feel? How did you respond to their anger?

      What is your “issue”? What personality fault or character flaw most vexes you?

      How can focusing on the positive can help eliminate the negative?

      A Call to Conversation

      When was the last time you were really angry? What provoked you then? What were the consequences? How did you recover?

      What was your childhood like? Do you remember getting into fights or arguments? What usually provoked you? How did you outgrow them?

      What are some of your favorite scripture passages? How have they helped you in your daily situations?

      A Call to Action

      Take a fifteen to twenty minute walk. While walking, take long slow deep breaths. Breathing in to slowly fill your lungs. Hold that breath. Then exhale slowly and completely. Feel both the fullness and the emptiness of each breath. While walking and breathing, recite to yourself these nine fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. Ask yourself if this physical and spiritual exercise of walking, breathing and reciting, has had any affect on your body: Are you more relaxed? Has your heartbeat slowed? Might this devotional exercise be a good way to take a break during your day?

      A Call to Prayer

      My dearest Lord, be thou a bright flame before me, be thou a guiding star above me, be thou a smooth path beneath me, be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, this day and for ever more. Amen. – St. Columba