It’s time to bear some fruit!

Matthew 7: 17-19 says “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”

For those of you who attended the HSI talks this week on Monday (in Sharjah) and on Wednesday (in Jebel Ali), I’m sure you would all agree that there was much “food for thought” spoken to us, some of which may still be lingering in our minds even now. I personally, couldn’t help but wonder how much fruit have I borne? I’ve been a catholic all my life -which makes a good 20+ years odd. Surely, by now, I should have as much ‘fruit’ to give to others as I bear? Should I not have a ‘land’ of God gifted graces working in me, all for the Glory of God?

It’s scary, but the answer that confronted me was a big ugly NO. A voice tells me I’m far from it actually. And then there’s a voice which tells me that it’s never too late to start trying.

Funny how, the apostles only spent 3 years with Jesus and were able to bear so much fruit in their life time, than perhaps you and I put together! One can argue and state many reasons for not being able to harvest the graces and talents God has gifted us in our lives... But how many of us really want to be compared to the man in the gospel of Matthew who had a bag of talents given to him by his master, but choose to hide the talents rather than multiplying them? (Please refer to Matthew 25:14-30)

God has blessed all of us equally. In fact He has blest us with more gifts and graces than we are aware of! Take time to identify your special gifts. And when you are done, take them out to the world and start to harvest them not only in your own lives, but in the lives of others too. 

As the days go by, let your heart fully understand what Jesus is telling us in John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 

  ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

I hope I see you all in the vineyard of Our God. Let’s harvest together!! :)

Olivia Pereira

HSI Media

Olivia.hsimt@gmail.com