Galatians 5:18-25
In step with the Spirit.
Today’s first reading reminded us of an important passage of Holy Scripture: the fruits of the Spirit. Let us remind ourselves again of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is a series of attitudes, or spiritual postures, that we ought to always have in our minds.
There are, however, two ways of viewing them, one far less helpful than the other. For while we all, I think, would like to see more of this fruit in our lives, if we approach them as a “to-do list”, we won’t get very far. Note how St Paul frames it: he gives us “works”, as in, “things to do” – but they are all sin; “works of the flesh”. By contrast, that which is spiritual is “fruit”, as in, things that grow out naturally from a healthy plant. So, instead of focusing on the fruit, let us look instead to the plant that bears them.
To push this analogy further, let us remember the words of our Lord himself, who spoke about how he is the true vine, and we are the branches. (John 15) If the Spirit is dwelling in us, then the fruit will grow. And the Spirit directs us to Christ, and joins us to him, and is our experience of him this side of eternity. Therefore, the closer we get to Christ, the more fruit of the Spirit we will see in our lives.
Consider how St Paul really drives home the difference between Spirit and flesh, between life and death (vv. 24-25):
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
That which contributes to the “works of the flesh” is dead and crucified. That which bears fruit is living, growing out of our new life in Christ, sustained by the Holy Spirit. This is wonderful news for those of us struggling in our pursuit of personal holiness! If we wish to see in ourselves more of the fruit of the Spirit; more joy, peace, patience, and so on; then we need not try and force those things in ourselves. Instead, we are to flee to Christ, to rest in him more deeply and more often, and that fruit will grow as a natural result.
It can be difficult to reconcile this approach to ourselves. We would very much like to have a to-do list to help us in our religion. But that is not what God desires. God desires our hearts: our affections, our wills, our love. Seek him first and foremost, and all the other things will grow out of that relationship. Build that relationship with Christ up over time, and over time the fruit of his Spirit will grow in you too. In the fruit of the Spirit we see the nature of Christ himself, as the One who is the source of perfect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Rest in him, discover those qualities in him, and they will grow in us as well.