Fruits of the Gospel

Meditation for Wednesday of the 28th in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Gal 5:18-25; Lk 11:42-46)

Finally, St. Paul talks about the fruits of a life guided by the true gospel. There is free movement of the Holy Spirit in hearts nourished by the word of God. That means those who are connected to Jesus in faith through the gospel, are led by the Holy Spirit. In other words, they live spiritual lives, and manifest the fruits of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” If one is an active Christian and these fruits of the Spirit are not within him, it implies he has either abandoned the true gospel or shifted from it.

On the other hand, those who follow the perverted gospel, who trust in their ability to keep the law, will slide away from the Spirit and end in the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.” St. Paul warns that those who manifest such behaviors shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

In the same way, Jesus condemned the Pharisees who made show of their practice of religion, and emphasized the external practice of the law, but neglect justice and the love of God, which are the works of the Holy Spirit. It means that if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify our inner selves, and become the internal energy that prompts our actions, we cannot produce the fruits of the Spirit. To such people who produce fruits of the flesh Jesus says, “Woe to you! For you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing it.”

 

At the end, we thank God for St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The lessons he taught are very relevant to us today because there are so many fake preachers who go around spreading adulterated gospel messages. St. Paul had given us ways to escape their trap. The ultimate fruits the gospel bear in us are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in God’s kingdom. That is why St. Paul concluded today’s reading by saying, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Wednesday October 12, 2022.

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