bear fruit
"My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit and becoming My disciples." —John 15:8
Jesus proclaimed that He is the true Vine and His Father is the Vinegrower (Jn 15:1). Before completing His thought by calling His disciples the branches on the Vine (Jn 15:5), Jesus interjected some comments on barren branches and fruitful ones (Jn 15:2-4). Jesus can't wait to proclaim the necessity of our bearing fruit abundantly (Jn 15:5). He is preoccupied with our fruitfulness. He insists we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit and of holiness (see Gal 5:22-23), and demands that we bear the fruit of evangelization.
Jesus loves the world so much that He does not want His sacrificial death on the cross to be in vain (see 1 Cor 1:17). He wants to light a fire on the earth (Lk 12:49) so that all will "be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4). He made us His witnesses (e.g. Acts 1:8) and we must be willing to become the slaves "of all so as to win over as many as possible" (1 Cor 9:19). Jesus' love is so great, and His salvation so necessary that He threatens to throw us into the fire and burn us forever if we refuse to try to bear abundant fruit (Jn 15:6).
Love Jesus and be fruitful.
Prayer: Father, may I be willing to die to lead others to Jesus.
Promise: "The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy." —Acts 15:3
Praise: St. Christopher and his twenty-four companions in Mexico, three laymen and the rest being priests, chose eternal life by giving up their earthly lives in martyrdom.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 30, 2013
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