27TH SUNDAY CATECHESIS: PLANTED TO BEAR FRUITS

– Rev. Fr. David Okolie

Dearest friends, you and I can attest to the fact that nobody is happy with UNFRUITFULNESS. To understand clearly what we are saying, just check around, are those couples who are not yet FRUITFUL after some years of their marriages happy? What about that neighbour of yours who is not FRUITFUL in his/her business/career, is he/she happy? What about that your child (student) whom you have kept on changing from one school to the other because he has refused to pass any exam (to be FRUITFUL); do you really think that he/she is happy? Are you also proud and happy when you look at him/her? Indeed, the list could go on.

Beloved friends, the truth here is that God who brought you and I into this world wants us to be *FRUITFUL* and he is not happy at all, when we refuse to bear FRUITS. Thus, Jesus affirms: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And I have appointed you, so that you may go forth and BEAR FRUIT, and so that your FRUIT may last” (cf. Jn 15:16).

Now, when we talk about being *FRUITFUL* in our own context as Christians, it has to do with living out *CHRISTIAN VIRTUES;* what St. Paul calls: *‘things that are True, Honourable, Just, Pure, Lovely, Gracious, Excellent and Worthy of Praise’* (cf. Phil 4:6-9).

Now, to live out Christian Virtues requires being led by the Holy Spirit, who makes these Virtues shine forth in our lives. Hence, the Catechetical Tradition of the Church has always listed the FRUITS of the SPIRIT thus: “Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity” (cf. CCC n. 1832).

Finally, dearest friends, for God to be happy with us, we have to be bearing the above FRUITS in our daily lives. Let us not allow the WORD of God we are hearing everyday to be a waste.

We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen🙏🏼

Happy Sunday and remain blessed!

(cf. CATECHESIS ‘NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE’ FOR THE 27TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A);
READINGS: R1: Is 5:1-7, R2: Phil 4:6-9, Gosp. Matt 21:33-43)