The Lord wants us, calls us, commands us to bear fruit.
In this homily, Fr. Steve reflects on Jesus's call that we bear fruit in our lives. The Lord wants us, calls us, commands us to bear fruit.
Jesus says, “I have chosen you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” We need to take stock of our lives and ask ourselves if we are bearing good fruit. One day we will be separated sheep from goats according to the fruit of our lives. What is the fruit of your life? Spiritual and corporal works of mercy will be taken into account on that last day. Worldly achievements will not matter; our comfort, our portfolio, our acclaim, our influence will not matter. All that will burn up like straw.
“I am the true vine,” says Jesus, “and my father is the vine grower.” If we don’t bear fruit he will cut us off the vine and burn us up. He doesn’t want that. He wants us to live forever. When things don’t go as we expect, that is God pruning us. If we have the eyes of faith we can see that he is at work to prune us. If we remain in Him and he remains in us we will bear much fruit. I can’t bear fruit that will last without the Lord’s help.
What we take into eternity is not wealth or status, but relationships. How humble Jesus is; he lets us bear the fruit: he has no hands but ours, no feet but ours, no heart but ours, to spread the gospel. Our call today is to conform our minds and our hearts more and more with Jesus’ sacred heart. Let’s take stock of our lives. Lets not waste the gift of our lives, our talents and our treasure. Let’s put it all out there: to give all, to receive all.
