Fruits of our lives

[Lee1]

What fruits do we bear in our lives?
Fruits of the flesh? Impatience, anger, discord or licentiousness.

Or fruits of the spirit?
The kinds which St Paul mentions
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5: 22–23).

When I was young someone asked me what emotions I felt the most during a typical day, my answer was anger. Which surprised me.

What about you and are there ways to alter this for the better?
Thoughts which may help?

 

[StephieNorthCo]

I think as you grow older, the anger will disipate, to be replaced by self control, patience and gentleness. In my 70s I find much joy, generosity, faithfulness and other virtues filling in as well. Not that I’m perfect… occasionally I get impatient etc. It’s the general trend that changes.

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

I always find it very touching during the Offentory during mass when the priest says “pray for friends [brethren] that yours and my sacrifices and the gifts of our lives may be acceptable to the Almighty Father.”

The offentory gifts are not just bread and wine we put on the altar, but also the gifts of our lives that we put on the altar. It’s really quite a touching thing

 

[guanophore]

When I was young someone asked me what emotions I felt the most during a typical day, my answer was anger. Which surprised me.

Most teens go through a period where this is normal for their development. It is part of the separation from parents. Some young people have a delayed separation and don’t experience this until young adult.

None of the virtues are based on emotion - they are all actions and qualities of character, and can co-exist with all kinds of emotions. For example, one might feel impatient, but choose to behave in a patient manner.

What about you and are there ways to alter this for the better?

I think that the virtues are a natural outgrowth of spiritual disciplines. We don’t see apples on the tree struggling to grow, or work harder at becoming an apple. They just cling to the branch and grow naturally.

Thoughts which may help?

What helped me most was memorizing scripture. It replaced a lot of my negative thinking, and equipped me so that the Holy Spirit could bring the passages to mind when I needed them. It helps me to listen to the audio bible, so that I saturate my brain with the Holy Word. I never met anyone who didn’t need a little brainwashing!

Now I am developing the habit of the Liturgy of the Hours, which refocuses me throughout the day.

 

[Dan_Defender]

Personally pray to receive these and other spiritual gifts. I don’t feel that on my own I could get better, but I need supernatural help. Just my two cents.

 

[Rob2]

What fruits do we bear in our lives?

The answer to the question will reveal how faithful we are to our Baptismal Vows .

The most important vows for any Christian are the vows of Baptism . Any other vows are based on and are an extension of Baptismal vows .

I have been reading a book by Cardinal Suenens .

He writes of a question a journalist asked him " What is the greatest obstacle in the spreading of the Gospel ?"

Cardinal Suenens replied without hesitation " The lack of faith among Christians as to what , by the grace of God , they really are ."

Along similar lines I would say that on the whole the greatest obstacle in a Christian’s life is the lack of faith of what he/she really is by Baptism .

Do we reject sin ? Do we fully believe in God ?

It’s all summed up in what you have referred to already in what St Paul writes about in Galatians 5 .

You , my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh …

" So I say, walk by the Spirit , and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit , and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law .The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

" Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. "

 

[Sarcelle]

For me it would be impatience, especially when driving.

I did an examination of my disposition for the past year and I was really lacking in the fruits of the spirit.