The Season of Fruitfulness

"I will make you exceedingly fruitful" - Genesis 17:6

September is a month in which to enjoy the fruits of the land. There is still much work to be done in the harvest, but many, many fruits and vegetables have arrived on our tables. Salads are made with fresh green onions and wonderfully red tomatoes. The fresh produce is crisp or juicy and full of flavour. We rejoice in the fruits of our labour.

"Every good tree bears good fruit…
Thus you will know them by their fruits." - Matthew 7:17,20

And yet we don’t "make" the fruit. We work to till the soil, we water and weed and nurture the plant; the plant gives us freely the gift of fruit, and we are grateful.

Over and over again we have prayed, "Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." Jesus, a gift freely given. So, too, is the gift of the Spirit given, the Spirit who in turn brings gifts – which produce fruit!

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." - Galatians 5:22

This September, as we mark the end of summer surrounded by the colours, the shapes, the flavours the earth has provided, might be a good time to check out our own lives.  Where do we need to water, to weed and to nurture our inner selves so that we, too, may be "exceedingly fruitful"?

Written by Mary Buckley CSJ

For other prayers, see this page