Parish: 'the thought' - June 25, 2019

June 25, 2019

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Carissimi:

Our community is mostly populated by highly motivated, competent individuals. Even our retired folks are probably still working too hard. While this all must be praised, I for one often need to refocus on being the kind of person whose life bears fruit for others. Fr. Nouwen notes:

There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame.

Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another’s wounds.

What is meant by bearing fruit? How can a Christian bear fruit?

"Bearing fruit" is a phrase used to describe the outward actions that result from the inward condition of a person's heart. Galatians 5:16–24 contrasts the works, or fruit, of the flesh with those of the Holy Spirit. In our sinful nature, we bear things such as idolatry, jealousy, dissensions, and fits of anger. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…" As Christians, we want to bear fruit in keeping with our relationship with God. We seek to do things outwardly that demonstrate that we have been made new in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). So what is the key to bearing godly fruit?

Jesus summarized the answer to this question in John 15:4–5 : "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." Bearing fruit in the Christian life requires abiding in Jesus.

When we are connected and intentional about our relationship with God, we produce the fruit God cultivates within us. It is God who does the work in us; our fruit-bearing is simply a result of what He does. Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…" ( John 15:16 ). Ephesians 2:8–10 has a similar message. Second Corinthians 3:18 talks about us being transformed into the image of Christ. As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, we become more Christlike; we bear fruit.

How do we build our relationship with God? We do things like spend time in the Word of God (the Bible); pray and listen; worship God alone and with others; fast; and give our time, treasure, and talents. These are some of the things we do. Some of the things we do not do, as to avoid poisoning the relationship from our end, include avoiding the lusts of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19–21 . In short, we actively pursue God and flee from that which is sinful.

To be sure, our focus as Christians is not the fruit we produce, but the connection we have with God. When we focus on our outward Christian life, we can become wrapped up in pretense. It is all too easy to live a Christian routine apart from any genuine connection to God. We can fall into the trap of putting on a holy façade without experiencing real heart transformation. In that case, the fruit we bear is our own, not that of the Holy Spirit, and our hearts are actually lacking Christ's love.

Bearing fruit in the Christian life is not about doing works or attempting righteousness in our own strength. Rather, it is about intentionally growing in our walk with Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit's work of transformation in us, and actively obeying God in all He calls us to do. As we seek Him and lay down our own fleshly desires for His better ways, we will bear lasting fruit and serve as salt and light to a world in need of Jesus ( Matthew 5:13–16 ).

An Amazing Story...

Editor's Note: Speaking of bearing fruit, and what Nouwen called: " fruit born through shared brokenness and intimacy that grows through touching one another’s wounds," I came across this article yesterday. I was so moved at what can happen when a community comes together to offer their help in times of crisis. Talk about 'fruit that remains'! I share it with you in hopes that we can continue to be these people as a Parish, and we can find our way back to this as a country. Enjoy!

Director of Communications

Here is an amazing story from a flight attendant on Delta Flight 15, written following the 9-11 attacks.

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, we were about 5 hours out of Frankfurt, flying over the North Atlantic .

All of a sudden the curtains parted and I was told to go to the cockpit, immediately, to see the captain. As soon as I got there I noticed that the crew had that "All Business" look on their faces. The captain handed me a printed message. It was from Delta's main office in Atlanta and simply read, "All airways over the Continental United States are closed to commercial air traffic. Land ASAP at the nearest airport. Advise your destination."

No one said a word about what this could mean. We knew it was a serious situation and we needed to find terra firma quickly. The captain determined that the nearest airport was 400 miles behind us in Gander, New Foundland.

He requested approval for a route change from the Canadian traffic controller and approval was granted immediately -- no questions asked. We found out later, of course, why there was no hesitation in approving our request.

While the flight crew prepared the airplane for landing, another message arrived from Atlanta telling us about some terrorist activity in the New York area. A few minutes later word came in about the hijackings.

We decided to LIE to the passengers while we were still in the air. We told them the plane had a simple instrument problem and that we needed to land at the nearest airport in Gander , New Foundland, to have it checked out.

We promised to give more information after landing in Gander. There was much grumbling among the passengers, but that's nothing new! Forty minutes later, we landed in Gander. Local time at Gander was 12:30 PM .... that's 11:00 AM EST. READ MORE

Exhibit...

We currently have a unique opportunity to express ourselves through an exhibit in the Reeves Gallery entitled - WE.

“Together We Are More- We Are One” is the inspiration of our current exhibit, sponsored by “Embracing God's Gifts”, the LGBTQ+ Ministry of Saint Ignatius Catholic Community.

"WE" is an invitation of solidarity and love through a collaborative accumulative exhibit and we would like to invite you to add your visual impressions to the gallery installation in the media of either paper or cardstock. If you are interested contact David Cunningham at dmcstudio2013@gmail.com .

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