23 May 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: മലയാളം
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23
The season of Pentecost is the season of the Church's life in the Spirit. If Pentecost was the planting, these Sundays are about the fruit. St Paul names it: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
In the evening Gospel Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Seed falls on the path, on rock, among thorns and on good soil. “As for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.” The Spirit sows; we must become good soil: attentive, deep, free from the thorns of worry and riches.
In the Gospel the crowds follow Jesus after the multiplication of loaves, looking for more bread. He tells them: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” When they ask what work God wants, he answers: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” “The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Israel's manna stopped when they reached the promised land; the true Bread will never fail.
Jeremiah gives a word of hope to people in exile: “I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope… When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.” God has a plan, a vocation, for each of us; the Spirit leads us to discover it.
Theme: “The Spirit bears fruit in good soil.”
After Pentecost the Church asks what difference the Spirit makes. The answer is fruit: a heart that receives the Word, a life that shows love and joy, and a people fed by the bread that endures.
“When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.” Luke 8:15
Apply: Read the Sunday Gospel again each evening this week and keep one word in your heart.
“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might.” Micah 3:8
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23
Apply: Choose one fruit of the Spirit and practise it deliberately each day this week.
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6:27
Apply: Pray for vocations, and encourage a young person to listen to God's call.
The Spirit sows, nourishes and makes us fruitful.
Let us be good soil, bear his fruit, and feed on the bread that endures.
Take-home resolution: Each night this week, examine: which fruit of the Spirit did I show today?
Dear brothers and sisters, last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today we ask: what difference does the Spirit make? St Paul answers: the Spirit bears fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Read that list slowly; it is a portrait of Jesus, and of what he wants to grow in us.
In the evening Gospel Jesus tells of a sower. Some seed falls on the path, some on rock, some among thorns, and some on good soil. The seed is the same; the soil makes the difference. The good soil is “an honest and good heart” that hears the Word, holds it fast and bears fruit with patience. The Spirit keeps sowing; are we good soil?
In John's Gospel the crowds look for Jesus because he gave them bread. He tells them: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” And he says: “The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” That bread is given to us at this altar.
Today is also a day to pray for vocations. Jeremiah says: “I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, to give you a future with hope.” God has a plan for every young person here: priesthood, religious life, marriage, a mission. Let us ask the Spirit to show it, and let us choose this week one fruit of the Spirit to practise. Amen.
Children, when a tree is healthy, it gives fruit. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we give fruit too: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness!
Jesus told a story about a farmer sowing seed. The seed that fell on good soil grew a big harvest. Our hearts should be good soil for God's Word.
Which fruit will you grow this week? Kindness? Patience? Let's say: “Holy Spirit, help me grow good fruit!”
Holy Spirit, sower of the Word, make our hearts good soil. Bear in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; feed us with the bread from heaven, and show each of us the plan you have for our lives. Amen.