Jesus said, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). As we grow in the Spirit, bearing fruit becomes a natural process. That’s why we need to remain faithful and be patient with ourselves, trusting God’s own faithfulness, patience, gentleness, and generous love for us. They need to receive nourishment from the sun and rain before they develop into fruit that will nourish others. They start as tight little buds that aren’t even edible, then slowly blossom. It helps to remember that spiritual growth is a process. When I allow myself to pause and breathe in God’s love through the Holy Spirit, I become more effective in genuinely carrying his message of love. Paul listed the first fruit of the Spirit as love, but all the others are connected - they come from and lead to love. Maybe it’s no accident that - at least in the English language - the word fruit can be singular or plural. These gentler attitudes pave the way for joy. When I relax, my relationships with others always improve. I can be kinder to others and more patient when I’m not trying to force things to go the way I think they should. Of course, I feel more peaceful when I treat myself gently instead of pressuring myself. That humility makes room for the Holy Spirit to emerge. Accepting God’s unconditional love empowers me to accept myself as a frail human in need of his help. After all, the disciples didn’t manufacture the Holy Spirit they received it.įor example, I’ve heard that patience can’t be achieved through willpower it’s acquired by letting go of self-will. That’s where the power of the Holy Spirit makes all the difference. Knowing and doing are two different things. Knowing what I should do - even if I want to - doesn’t enable me to do it. “You’ve got to be patient,” I’d mutter to myself, all the while feeling like a cartoon character ready to shoot steam out my ears. I’ve even tried willing myself into patience. As I try to exercise self-control, the more I suppress my feelings, the louder they nag at me. If I’m “generous to a fault” and others don’t reciprocate - or at least notice and thank me - I become resentful. Although I might keep it up for a little while, sooner or later my pleasant veneer wears down. I simply can’t produce these qualities single-handedly. Similarly, efforts to be good or gentle or patient on my own usually fail. Those that fall from the tree eventually rot. This fruit can’t be developed independently. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (5:22). One Pentecost Sunday reading, taken from St. Our experience may not be as sudden or startling, but it’s no less profound. Sometimes, as with the apostles, the Spirit’s manifestation is astonishing and the results immediate. We who believe are also blessed with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. That promise was kept on the day of Pentecost, considered the birthday of the Church, when Jesus’ followers received the Holy Spirit. J esus assured his disciples he would not leave them as orphans he promised the Father would send another Advocate to be with them always (Jn 14:16-18). By Barbara Hosbach | Catholic News Service