Always Ripe Fruit

today is Fathers’ Day and I wish to honor first my dad Joe Macari. This is his photo. He was a mechanical designer for switch gears and circuit breakers. He was taught accordion and trombone in our house. During and after the Second World War, he would entertain the troops at the USO and the Philly Veterans Hospital. He would also visit nursing homes to sing and play. For him, making music and giving joy was all important in life.

This is a photo of my mother-in-law, Ruth and my father-in-law, George W. Watson. He was an attorney with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, DC. He and Ruth started the United Communities Ministries which served the poor in the Alexandria, VA vicinity. These folks were models to me and my wife, Linda, of service in the name of Christ.

We now follow up on last time’s survey of the Fruit of the Spirit. You will recall that the Greek word for “fruit” is in the singular. Think of grapes, olives and other fruits and vegetables that grow on a vine. So the Holy Spirit connects us to our Vine is Jesus.

Let us continue:

Self-control also self-discipline. This fruit relates to those desires which must be given restraint and boundaries. Directly relating to this fruit is found in Galatians 5: 19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Anything in life worth achieving demands single mindedness. So by surrender to the Holy Spirit, we can exercise the self-control impossible in our own strength. 21st Century North American culture has no appreciation for this fruit or virtue: social media is no help at all.

Nevertheless, we find self control experienced in Twelve Step Programs through sponsors, group testimonies, Step Meetings and accountability partners. We in the church could benefit from the wisdom of these groups. Has someone modeled self-control, self-discipline in our lives? Do we rely on Holy Spirit for this fruit?

Joy What at big difference there is between joy and happiness . Happiness is a response to circumstances which change moment by moment. One of most familiar songs worldwide is “Happy Birthday to You” Yet, even that song underlies how temporary is the state of happiness. In contrast, joy manifests the inner quality of strength and confidence in the promises of God. This confidence is an abiding fruit and virtue when life situations feel unsatisfying and even hopeless. Who models joy in our lives? Do we rely on Holy Spirit for this fruit?

Peace The Apostle Paul as a Greco-Roman Jew is thinking of what in Hebrew is the phrase “sholom aleichem” and in Arabic in “salaam aleykhem.” More than the absence of armed conflict. Rather these phrases express the perspective of reconciliation, trust, harmony and mutual respect in a family and community. It is an ideal that the Gospel points to and challenges believers to achieve whatever may be it difficulties. Currently living in Israel is my longtime friend Ruth Singer. She is a Messianic Jew who emigrated to Israel in the 1980’s. Her Messianic Jewish congregation in the port city of Haifa has a years long partnership with a Palestinian Pentecostal congregation. They sponsor many ministries for their community to model the true spirit of Gospel peace, of “shalom” and “salaam.” The countless community ministries of our local churches and nonprofit agencies do the same. Who models joy in our lives? Do we rely on Holy Spirit for this fruit?

Love Paul here utilizes the Greek word “agape.” to emphasize God’s love for believers through Christ's sacrificial love on the Cross. Love here forms the foundation for all the other fruit listed. The visual image is used of the vine which connects all of the fruit. All though these months from March 2020, the sacrificial work of first responders and all of us to COVID 19 has demonstrated love for all. In a very different way, the life work of Fred Rogers comes to mind. Countless children, as yours and my own, benefitted from the life lessons enacted on Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Tom Hanks recent movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a fitting tribute to the life work of Fred Rogers. Love permeated all he stood for. Who models love in our lives? Do we rely on Holy Spirit for this fruit? Which fruit do we want to blossom in our daily lives?