10.16.12

Lectio: Gal 5.18-25                                                                                                                                                                                        Meditatio: "In contrast [to the works of the flesh], the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Gal 5.22-23

Oratio: " O God, You not only gave us Your Spirit but You gave us through the Spirit wonderful growth.

I remember Paul enumerated for the Galatians the fruits of Your Spirit, beginning with ‘love’ and ending with ‘self-control’ - and how wonderful the impact of these fruits on our lives and on the lives of others through us.

Grant that I may allow the Spirit to have full sway in my life so that the fruits offered by the Spirit may take hold in me.
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.
Operatio:reflect on "fruits": the end-purpose of growth; the produce of a seed; in prayer ask for the grace to be fertile soil for the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit’s presence in me will result in the fruits the Spirit desires for all of us; and then for the grace to use these fruits for service to God and to those whose lives I touch.

Tomorrow's reading: 2 Tm 4.10-17b