~Pomegranate and the Spirit~

~~~ Galatians 5: 18-25 ~~~ Psalm 1~~~ Luke 11: 42-46 ~~~

 

If you are truly guided by the Spirit, as Paul suggests,

 then you should have nothing to worry about.

If you are in the Spirit then you will be less inclined

to indulge in the things of the flesh.

Most all of the sins that Paul refers to in this letter 

are about selfishly putting yourself above others.

They are supported by believing that we should live for the moment.

They fool us into believing that satisfying our own needs take preference.

 

Paul goes on to say that if we are to be led by the Spirit

then we will manifest more goodness in our lives.

Embed yourself in the Spirit and you will bear fruit.

 

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

 

It seems to me that the pomegranate is the perfect fruit

to represent the fruit of the Spirit referenced in today's letter by St. Paul.

The pomegranate fruit is unique in that the fruit itself

is neatly packed inside of a vibrant reddish sphere.

Once you cut open the pomegranate you see the actual

edible fruit...many small seeds between 200 and over 1000.

 

So imagine for a moment within the pomegranate

you find all nine fruit of the Spirit.

If you notice the word fruit is singular,

but yet contains many wonderful qualities of the Spirit

to cultivate in our lives.

 

 

In further research on the the pomegranate I was amazed to find

that it has Biblical connections. It is mentioned several times

in the Song of Songs, which poetically speaks of love,

the first of the fruit of the Spirit.

See Song of Songs 4:3, 6:11, 7:12, and 8:12 t

o share just a sampling of the references to the pomegranate.

I am now so fascinated by this unusual fruit

that I want to take more time with it's Biblical connection.

 

But for now take time to reflect on these qualities

that flourish as the fruit of the Spirit.

 

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

 

Which of these do you feel most comfortable with in your heart?

Which do you find the most challenging?

 

Each one is inviting you to live in the Spirit and not just by the law.

The law can be blind, cold, harsh, and rigid.

By contrast the Spirt is tender, compasionate, and kind.

May the fruit of the pomegranate flourish in your heart.

The Father Knows Best

~~~ St. Therese of the Child Jesus ~~~

 

~~~ Job 1: 6-22 ~~~ Psalm 17 ~~~ Luke 9: 46-50 ~~~

 

If ever you are feeling melancholy just go to the book of Job and begin reading;

you will quickly feel better.

From the very beginning of this book we find Job being plunged

into a very sober time for him. Satan is mocking Job's faithfulness to God.

 

"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.

 

God is there to protect him, but everything else around him

is being consumed by the evil one.

All that Job had was systematically destroyed by Satan...

Job not only lost his livestock but also his family.

 

"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead..."

 

Job immediately prostrates himself before God an surrenders his life...

 

"...The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"

I am not sure I would have the same conviction as Job shows.

Job certainly would have been justified in being angry with God for allowing these terrific events to take place; for Job was a God fearing man.

 

The psalmist today echoes Job's prayer of surrender...

 

"...Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me."

 

Job did not turn away from God when faced with tremendous trials and heartache.

 

The gospel is one we have recently heard, but today as we honor 'the little flower' it is particularly appropriate. Jesus speaks about who will enter into heaven...

 

"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."

 

"Jesus does not look so much at the greatness of our actions,

or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them."

St. Therese of Lisieux

 

All things will pass except for the love of God.

I pray for childlife trust in God.

The Father Knows Best!

 

St. Therese, pray for us.