July 23 The Heart of St. Paul
A common question asked by many people concerns the discernment of the signs that God is working in their lives. How do we know that what we are doing is the will of God? It is clear to St. Paul that God does not keep us guessing in this regard. He gives us indicators and little signs we can notice in ourselves to determine whether we are on the right track. Paul refers to these in the Letter to the Galatians as the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
He writes that “the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) If a person is trying to live in the presence of God, these fruits will be noticed and felt in one degree or another. They flow from the Holy Spirit and help us in our love of God and neighbor, as well as in the personal struggles that occur in our souls.
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are more than just passing feelings. These become, as we draw closer to Christ, the ordinary ways in which we live our lives. They provide us with the confidence that lessens our fears of what others may think or say, since these fruits are indications that what we are doing is in fact pleasing to God. Along with these gifts comes the humble awareness that we must first depend on God to care for us and, at the same time, recognize that God depends on us to use these fruits as seeds to plant in the hearts of others..
The experience of the fruits teaches us that our soul is not to be an arid desert, but a lush garden. It is the place where God comes to dwell with us. Let us ask the Lord that fruits we are able to bear through his grace and our faithfulness may contribute to the beauty of his world and the glory of his name.
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