Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Text: Galatians 5:13-25

Reflection and Question: In Galatians Paul presents his solution to the fact that Gentiles were considered an abomination by the Jewish followers of Jesus because they did not follow Jewish purity laws. Paul’s logic is that Jesus frees both Jew and Gentile from the law by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He does not abandon the law; instead, he clarifies that the one highest commandment is to love one another, and that obedience to that commandment is made manifest in the fruits of the Spirit. The same logic holds today as we come to accept the fact that GLBT people, like the ancient Gentiles, bear the fruit of the Spirit. How do you obey the commandment to love your neighbor as your self?

Prayer: Most Blessed Spirit, You inspiration does not free us from the law, though it does set us free. You bind us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we get that right we can hardly contain the power to bear fruit. May our good glorify You. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).