The Vineyard of the Holy Spirit

Good News ReflectionMonday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary TimeJune 1, 2009
Today's Memorial: Saint JustinPray for those who have high intellects but little faith:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/JustinMartyr.htm
Today's Readings:Tobit 1:3; 2:1a-8Ps 112:1b-6Mark 12:1-12http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/060109.shtmlAudio: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_06_01.mp3
The Vineyard of the Holy Spirit
As you read or hear today's Gospel passage, consider: Who are the tenant farmers of today?
The vineyard owner is God the Father. The beloved son is Jesus, of course. The farmers, at the time that Jesus first spoke this parable, were the Jews who rejected the Son of God.
But today we can say that these ill-mannered farmers include Christians who are lazy or belligerent about doing the service that the Father has called them to do in the Church. They might do some of the work, but they're not doing it the way Jesus would do it nor for the same reasons that Jesus would do it.
Through our baptisms, we are all called to continue the mission of Christ. Through our spiritual growth and life experiences, God has given us the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and he's asking us to tend the vineyard so that these fruits multiply and make a bigger difference in the world.
He gives us everything we need to become great farmers. Consider the farming tools that God has given to you. Every talent you have is a gift from the Holy Spirit and is meant to be used in God's vineyard, as well as every bit of education and know-how, and every act of love.When we assess ourselves, we tend to list what's bad about us more than what's good in us. But it's not prideful to take note of the gifts we have — as long as we remember that every good gift comes from God.
Even our life itself is a gift from the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, to bear fruit that will nourish the faith growth of the people around us. Every unborn child is a gift of the Holy Spirit, no matter what the circumstances of conception were or how inconvenient or handicapped the life would be. Every suffering, diseased, or brain-damaged vegetative person, who would seem better off dead, is a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit who can bear good fruit through the grace and loving purposes of God, even though their fruits might be invisible to us.
Do you know how precious YOU are? By acknowledging your gifts, you give glory to God. By using your gifts, his vineyard thrives.
For example: If you need more patience in dealing with people who are giving you a hard time, give them the gift of love, delivered through a charitable deed. You don't have to actually enjoy tilling the soil! Farmers sweat in the sun. But this is how the gifts of the Spirit produce the fruits of the Spirit that nourish everyone around us with the sweet taste of joy and peace and unconditional love.
You've got important work to do in this vineyard. Go do it!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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