the eternal fruit of love
"As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you." —John 15:9
"God is love" (1 Jn 4:16). The Persons of the Holy Trinity love Each other eternally. The Father and the Son love each other eternally, and the eternal Fruit of this love is the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Spirit not only produces fruit (Gal 5:22) but is Himself the Fruit of the love of the Father and the Son.
In receiving the Holy Spirit, we receive the power to obey God's very first command to the human race: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it" (Gn 1:28). In the Spirit, we bear abundant (Jn 15:5), lasting fruit (Jn 15:16).
However, we live in a contraceptive, abortifacient society. As Pope John Paul II has taught, we live in a "culture of death." This is true both physically and spiritually. For example, many Christians in the Western world would never even entertain the thought of trying to bear fruit by evangelizing. Even those who will share their faith under ideal circumstances abort their attempts to evangelize when they see they will have to die to themselves to bear fruit (see Jn 12:24).
As Pentecost approaches, we must decide whether we want the Holy Spirit, the Fruit of the love of the Father and the Son, or if we want to remain in the "culture of death." "Choose life" (Dt 30:19) and life in the Spirit.
Prayer: Father, I choose life, love, fruitfulness, and death to self.
Promise: "He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill He lifts up the poor." —Ps 113:7
Praise: St. Matthias performed great signs and wonders among the people of Jerusalem. As a result, "more and more believers, men and women in great numbers, were continually added to the Lord" (Acts 5:12-14).
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Divine Love on audio AV 52-3 or video V-52.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 30, 2013
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