fruit loops
"My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit." —John 15:8
We are God's branches, and we are to bear fruit for Him. Thus, the fruit we bear is not ours. For example, I have six children. All are adults, and five are married and live on their own. I had to let these five children go. They were my responsibility for two decades, and were ripening in my home under my care. Ultimately, however, these children belong to God, and they are His fruit.
Over and over, we branches repeat this cycle. We remain attached to Jesus, the Vine (Jn 15:1). We bear fruit, get pruned, sometimes painfully, and release the fruit to the Father when it is ripe. We repeat this cycle to bear "much fruit" for the Father-Vinegrower during our life (Jn 15:8).
A branch has two areas for openings, one that is attached to the Vine, and the other openings attached to the fruit. The opening attached to the Vine is designed to be a smooth, firm joint, never to be undone. The opening attached to the fruit is designed to hold the fruit tight until ripe, then to detach the fruit, so that disease enters neither fruit nor branch.
May we always release our fruit immediately to the Lord, for it is His. The branch does not exist for itself, but for the Vine and for bearing much fruit. Let us devote ourselves to Jesus completely, and focus on glorifying Him by bearing much fruit.
Prayer: Father, may I love the fruit You enable me to bear, but love You even more. I entrust You with the ripe fruit You have allowed me to bear. Use me as You wish. I am all Yours.
Promise: "Their story caused great joy among the brothers." —Acts 15:3
Praise: When St. Rita of Cascia lost both husband and sons, she devoted herself to her Bridegroom. She became a religious sister.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 28, 2018
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