The season of Easter, is indeed a season of joy, peace, happiness and goodness in abundance. The goodness in abundance flows from the pierced side of the most magnanimous, merciful and benevolent heart of Jesus from which gushed forth the most precious blood and water! The precious blood and water till the last drop wiped away pain, sorrow, bitterness, suffering … and brought eternal life. If sorrow, pain and bitterness were taken away, then why do we still suffer, query the mind? The Word of God gives us the answer: “The wages of sin is death” death that comes through the unpleasant feelings mentioned above. Yet, where sin dwells grace abounds. Nicodemus asked Jesus: master, what must I do to gain eternal life? And Jesus said: “…you must be born again”! So to experience this new life or to be born again is( not physical birth) but death to sin, death to contemptible, inadequate ways and a walk through the narrow gate fulfilling the great criterion mentioned in the gospel of St. Mathew 25: 31ff. being born again is fulfilling the Magna Charta – the beatitudes.
We have heard of natural intuitive gifts and talents. What about fruits? Fruits that we eat and other fruits borne from our actions or way of life! Do they come easy? No, the farmer or the gardener tills the ground, toils from dawn to dusk and God blesses the work of his hands with the produce from what is sown. In the gospel of St. John chapter 15 the author speaks about bearing of fruits inclusive of the pruning! cutting of dry the branches; and the need to remain rooted in the vine inorder to surpass the weird and tempting test/storms! Yes, the vivifying and radical ordeal and trials.
For better understanding, I remember a shared experience: prior to his ordination he told his bishop on the day of his ordination to pray for him while laying his hands a particular prayer. This particular would-be priest was short tempered (as mentioned by him). On the appointed day, the ordination took place. When all the priest went to the sacristy, the newly ordained priest went to his bishop and said: you didn’t lay your hands properly neither did you pray appropriately”. The bishop humbly replied: yes, I did laid my hands and prayed for you intently, exactly the way you told me! Why do you say so, what happened…?”. The priest said: not even ten minutes, I bombarded somebody!” The bishop gave an apt reply: “indeed God heard my prayer and gave you opportunity to practice your short temperedness! Patience will not come to you in an envelope as a gift on your ordination day”! This incident was shared by the same priest while preaching a retreat. Oomph’s!
So vivid, enlightening and inspiring! It’s true we get so many opportunities and occasions to attain the fruits of the Holy Spirit; however, we hold God/others responsible for our failures! Certainly, patience, peace, self-control, forgiveness, concern, generosity, etc. doesn’t come easy. And the Easter season is the best time to attain them after 6 weeks of repentance, acceptance of vulnerability and the choice to be born again in the Spirit! Watch out for opportunities that come through and in varied ways to grow in patience, to have self-control, let somebody see your concern of being generous and you will experience inner joy, peace and happiness.
