If you’ve noticed like me, not too much in the world seems to be “bearing fruit and growing.”
Everything seems sickly to a certain degree.
Our educational systems.
Sports.
Cultural values or lack thereof.
Cities.
You know what I’m talking about.
To add to this, there is a real fear about everything. Media is perpetually trying to get and keep us in a constant state of fear.
None of this bears fruit. None of it. It paralyzes us, causes a general feeling of malaise, and leads us to being negative about everything.
St. Paul tells the Colossians, in our first reading today, “Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you…” Colossians 1:6
The “it” he is referring to is the Gospel.
The Gospel bears fruit in the world and in us. It causes good grow and emotional and spiritual health…and physical health to a certain degree in that peace and joy are healthier than fear and anxiety.
If we want to bear fruit in our lives, Catholic Pilgrims, and in the lives of others, we are going to have to live and speak the Gospel. We are going to have to turn to our Bibles more than we turn to social media. We are going to have to sit in silent prayer with God more than we sit in front of screens listening to people stir up fear in us.
The choice is ours and I pray we choose wisely.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Wednesday.
*Basilica of St. John: Selçuk, Turkey
