We gather on Gaudete Sunday, a day that we are called to rejoice. We are that much closer to Jesus’ birth. We have been helped all that much more through God’s grace these last few weeks in this season of preparation. This week itself is a time of mercy. There will be a number of parish penance services. Monday the service is at St. Bronislava at 6:30 pm. Tuesday is at St. Peter at 6:30 pm. Thursday’s service is at St. Stephen at 6:30 pm.
As we continue to go deeper into our faith with the help of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I would highlight paragraphs #736 and #1832. “By this power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear ‘the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.’ ‘We live by the Spirit”; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we walk by the Spirit.” (#736) Part of Advent is making room for the Spirit to work in us. Our lives, time and minds can be very full to the point of overwhelming. Advent is a time to slow down, reflect and see what needs to be prioritized so that we can bear the fruit that God calls us to. Perhaps there are things that we need to let go of, perhaps we do need change in our lives since what we have done is not allowing us to bear fruit but simply get through the day.
“The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: ‘charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.” (#1832) Eternal glory, that heaven can touch us right now may not come to mind often. Yet by having and living these fruits out, we allow heaven to connect with earth and with each other. Perhaps as we look to our own actions and words in the Advent season of preparation, are we revealing heaven to those around us, especially family and friends, because we are sharing with them the fruits of the Spirit?