http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3081370690&v=info That should be the Spirit and Truth Face book. Over the last nine years it is one of the groups I have tried to start here at St. Mary's. Maybe because we are so far from Chicago these things are hard to get going. It is a group meant of young adults that combines faith discussion and reflection with a Eucharistic spirituality. This is more than keeping the young people in Church kind of thing, but hopes to expand their understanding of what Church is.
When the Bishops wrote about Discipleship about a dozen years ago, they used the image of a garden in which men and women were originally planted. The question that they proposed was how well our garden is growing. If we who are Baptized and Confirmed are responsible for the pruning, trimming, and watering, we have to reflection from time to time as to whether we are bearing much fruit,
The home I grew up in had several fruit trees in the backyard. About this time of year we prune off branches that were dead, and fertilize and water the tree; getting it ready for the winter and spring. The scariest aspect of the tree's life was fungus. You do not want fungus to invade your tree. The Gospel for today makes a lot of sense in that much like a tree the Body of Christ, the Church, needs ongoing care and maintenance. Using St.Paul's analogy, all parts of the Body need care and attention.
Years ago we priests had a seminar in which we heard again about evangelization. Again we were told that small faith sharing groups were the way to go. The life of the parish, and essentially the Church, continues on and bears fruit, when e take time after Sunday to discuss scripture, theology, and faith. Father does not have to be present, be an able leader does. This activity is what causes the sap to continue and the plant to blossom, giving fruit at due season.
We can pray and work for evangelization and stewardship in our parish community. We stand with Christ in order to share good news.
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