“By Their Fruits You Will Know…” (Matthew 7:16) 

The readings for Easter Sunday Five begin with the gift of Awe of the Lord and end with the Fruit of the Spirit: 

The Church…. was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the awe of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit, grew in numbers (Acts 9:31). 

Children, let us love not in word but in deed… Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them. And the way we know he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us (1John 3:18). 

A branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine. So neither can you unless you remain in me… Whoever remains in me… will bear much fruit… By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit… (John 15:1).  

The Responsorial, Psalm 22, says, “All the ends of the earth shall turn to the Lord.” They will be drawn by the “fruit of the Spirit” visible in those who are living the divine life of God. 

The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patient Endurance, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22). 

Christians are not called to live good lives, but empowered by the Spirit to live divine lives. If we are living by the Spirit, the “fruit of the Spirit” should be evident in us. Then we will “rejoice always” (Philippians 4:4) with “indescribable and glorious joy” (1Peter 1:8).  

Let’s try to learn how. 

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings on the USCCB website here

Easter season is the time to focus on the Holy Spirit. Starting on Easter Sunday, we will look carefully at how the Spirit is proclaimed, invoked, and presented to us in the Mass. Lex orandi, lex credendi: “As the Church prays, so she believes.”

After that, we will reflect on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5:22), and at how the Spirit enters the life of those who believe.

As you read these reflections, ask for the gift of Understanding. Ask to really understand what you believe, what you see and hear at Mass. Go deeper into understanding the Mass than you ever have before. We experience the Faith when we become aware of its mystery. We hope you reflect deeply on the Mass and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and find yourself more and more drawn into the mysteries of our Lord in the Mass and in His Gifts.