The Fruit of the Spirit

From the Parish Priest – Fr. Romey Rosco

Galatians 5:22-23 states that “the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

These nine “fruits” (or character traits) are all related to one another.  That’s why St. Paul calls all of them “the fruit of the Spirit,” and all of them should be active in our lives as we abide in Christ and Christ in us.  This is done by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God the Father, for the good of His Church and for our own salvation.

We must continually work on nourishing the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Do people see YOU as loving, joyful, peaceable, kind good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled?

St. Paul further talks about the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.  I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

We cannot have it both ways.  As Orthodox Christians, we must continually struggle to free ourselves of that which tempts us in the ways of the flesh, and hold fast to the promise of everlasting life which is offered through the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

 
From The Weekly Bulletin, Vol. XXXIX No. 24, 3 June 2012
Sts. Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox Church, Dearborn Heights MI