Lord, give me the strength to continue to build a stronger and deeper foundation of faith in Your love. Prune away my weaknesses that bear rotten fruit so that I may follow Your will and stand strong during tough times.
Reflection
I take great comfort in trusting that I have the very real presence of Jesus Christ in my life. There is no doubt in my mind or heart, that He accompanies me every day of my life. Whether I am worthy of that companionship every day is another story but any sense of distance or aloneness is my issue, not a failure on His part.
My greatest challenge is living this gift every day. My life should reflect basking in His presence and acting in ways that are worthy of that Presence. I guess that is why Grace is such a gift – unearned and given out of God’s love and mercy. Psalm 113 resounds with the blessings so freely given and the expectation in return – to sing His praises; “Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.”
St. Paul writes that Christ came to save sinners, including Paul. (1 Tm 1:15-17) In him “Christ Jesus might display all his patience.” Paul says that Christ is patient with him and with us. Christ does not expect us to be perfect, to bear fruit at all times. When we bear rotten fruit or no fruit at all, when we are sinners, then he will forgive us. We should do the same with each other. We should not give up on a friend or relative, a co-worker or a neighbor, a politician or a business partner, who seems to only “bear rotten fruit” and “out of a store of evil produces evil.” We should not give up on them but be patient with them, and patiently present them with God’s Word, hoping and praying that it will transform them and their actions.
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