The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contrast the life we experience in the Spirit with the consequence of our failure to accept restoration of our deficiencies.
Spirit in Life
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans describes Life in the Spirit. Psalm 24 is a song of Entrance into the Temple. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus parables are about repent or perish and the barren fig tree1
The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not complete for this post. Don Schwager quotes “The Lord's three visits through the Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Gospel,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The Lord also has something very fitting to say about a fruitless tree, 'Look, it is now three years that I have been coming to it. Finding no fruit on it, I will cut it down, to stop it blocking up my field.' The gardener intercedes... This tree is the human race. The Lord visited this tree in the time of the patriarchs, as if for the first year. He visited it in the time of the law and the prophets, as if for the second year. Here we are now; with the gospel the third year has dawned. Now it is as though it should have been cut down, but the merciful one intercedes with the merciful one. He wanted to show how merciful he was, and so he stood up to himself with a plea for mercy. 'Let us leave it,' he says, 'this year too. Let us dig a ditch around it.' Manure is a sign of humility. 'Let us apply a load of manure; perhaps it may bear fruit.' Since it does bear fruit in one part, and in another part does not bear fruit, its Lord will come and divide it. What does that mean, 'divide it'? There are good people and bad people now in one company, as though constituting one body." (excerpt from Sermon 254.3)2
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 8:1-11 comments that we must cooperate with the Spirit. That might mean making more room in our schedule for prayer or resisting certain patterns of sin. But the Holy Spirit does more than simply help us overcome sin. His power enables us to live a new way as well, a life of peace, patience, kindness, and all the other fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us to pray and discern God’s voice, both through Scripture and in the events of our day. He also helps us turn to God in times of temptation or stress, and fills us with a strength beyond our own.
Today, tell the Holy Spirit that you want to cooperate with his work in you. Pray often, “Come, Holy Spirit!” He may encourage you by periodically bringing to your mind how much God loves you or what Jesus has done for you. Thank him for that. The Spirit is in you to revive you when you feel weak or weary so that you can live a life of freedom that is pleasing to God. “Holy Spirit, help me to live a life that pleases God.”3
Friar Jude Winkler shares insight about the readings today.
Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on the systemic evils in our culture. Life in the Spirit is an opportunity to seek a mindfulness about our reality that draws us to God.
References
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