By the power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit. He who grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear “the fruit of the Spirit: . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church (736)
The Holy Spirit is within each one of us who has been baptized. Do our lives reflect that truth? Do we bear the fruits of the Spirit? Do we exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? That’s quite an impressive list of positive qualities. I know I shrink a little when I read it. At any given moment, I may fall short of demonstrating any or all of those characteristics. We humans are sinners. We try and fail and try and fail again. I’m so thankful for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the graces that it provides to offer God’s forgiveness and to help me keep trying to be the best person I can be.
This list of fruits of the Spirit is a good litmus test for our creative works as well. Does what we are creating, what we are putting out into the world and into our culture, cultivate these fruits? Is it an act of love on our part? Will it help people feel loved or to show love to others? Does it bring joy to others? Does it help generate a spirit of peace, kindness, gentleness, or goodness in our world? Our world can be so angry. Do our creative acts help different peoples appreciate each other instead of seeing the other as an enemy? Do our creative acts exhibit faithfulness? Do we remain true to the Word of God? Do we practice self-control in our creative acts: not giving in to our base desires, but rather seeking to use our gifts the way God wants them to be used? Do our creative acts encourage others to do the same, or do they tempt them to sin?
Prayer
Dear Holy Spirit, please help Your fruits to be evident in my life. Please help me when I fail to keep trying. Please guide my creative acts so that they may bear Your fruit in other’s lives.
Action
Which fruit of the Spirit do you struggle with the most? Make an effort today to work on that particular trait. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. If you fail, ask for more help and try again!
This is an excerpt from The Work of Our Hands. (Amazon affiliate link)
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