Holy Monday

READING

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:12–19 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

REFLECTION

 Leaves come before the fruit. When there are leaves yet no fruit, something has gone wrong…and THUS DISAPPOINTMENT.

After yesterday’s celebratory preparation for Jesus, today let us ensure that we the branches of the vine are truly bearing fruit and not just showing leaves.

In this conversation the leaves of our life would be the tangible things that we track that can be seen as a form of godliness.

Public piety, church attendnace, religious practice. – – – THESE ARE THE LEAVES. There is nothing wrong with the leaves, but the leaves are only of value if they are a marker of the fruit that we bear. Evaluate not your church attendance, and religious practice, but the fruit of the SPIRIT and its increase in your life.

RESPONSE

IS YOUR FRUIT AS VISIBLE AS YOUR LEAVES? Have a discussion with your inner circle (family or close friends) and ask if them if they could point out visible examples of your spiritual fruit.