In my garden there is a beautiful old Bramley apple tree that has provided us with fruit for years. The quality of this has varied according to the moods of the weather. Early rain and then sun, provide abundant fruit. While late frost, lots of rain and no sun on the other hand bring very little fruit - a bit like me I suppose. Lately I noticed that the tree had quite a bit of dead wood, and the growth was going in an unbalanced direction, so last week I had it pruned. I am told it will be much better next year as a result of this attention.

When God first touched my life I was unpruned, growing in all directions, affected by outside conditions as to whom I liked, spoke to or criticised. Within a short time of beginning to come alive within, however, I went on retreat. The speaker told us that when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, we begin to change, often unknown to ourselves, but noticed by others who are affected by our developing transformation. When I returned home, that night, just after we had gone to bed, I asked my husband if he had seen any change in me at all of late. He was facing the other way, and from over his shoulder I heard him say, “No, not really.” I was rather disappointed. A few weeks later, however, my sister came up from London to stay with me. As she was going away she suddenly came back up the drive, looked at me and said “ I’ve never seen such a change in anyone as I have seen in you this weekend. What’s going on?” I waved goodbye, closed the door and hit the air with my fists shouting “yes”! And, I am sure I committed the sin of pride as I danced along my hall. While the gifts of the Spirit, the Catechism tells us, are “dispositions which make us docile to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives,” the fruit of these gifts are the beginning of perfection, seeded in us by the Holy Spirit, “the first fruits of eternal glory” The Tradition of the Church lists them as twelve. Luke 13;6-9 tells us that we are seeded by God in order that we become fully grown and mature enough to grow fruit which will feed others, bring life to others and that God is the centre of that life. In Gal; 5; 22-25 Paul tells us that what the Spirit nurtures in us, what the Spirit brings is not of this world. The Holy Spirit seeds us so that the fruit we bear will be of service to the Church, the World and to each other. Fruit, however, needs time to grow. It also needs the correct environment and it takes time. With it there are often growing pains, but as we blossom and bear fruit in God’s name, we become signs of the Kingdom in the world. These fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are all signs of the followers of Jesus and mature Christian living are:

Love is reflecting the love of God to self and others. It is accepting people’s potential, affirming their gifts; taking them as they are and helping them to grow. It is laying down our lives, emptying ourselves of selfishness and living life as we are meant to live it.(1 John 4;16)

Joy is the sign that despite all that life throws at me, within my heart, soul and mind there is a contentment, a knowing that I am doing the will of God, that I am on the right path, fulfilling my God given potential creatively. (Neh. 8;10 Heb 12;2)

Peace means a willingness to serve no matter what is going on; trusting that if I am doing God’s work barriers will disappear. It is being calm when the waters are disturbed. (Rom 5;1 & 15;13)

Patience is knowing that God will open doors if I am patient and wait for his timing. It is being patient with myself and with others and not making hasty decisions or judgements. It means giving time to myself and those around me and accepting my own faults and those of others, believing that together with God we can change. (Col 1;11& Eph, 4;2)

Kindness is being able to be attentive to myself and to others. It is being attentive to my needs and the needs of others and forgiving myself and those who hurt me. It entails respect for myself and for others and recognising the dignity that being a child of God brings to us all. (2 Cor 6;6-7)

Goodness is coming to understand and accept the love, mercy and forgiveness I have received from God and knowing that I am called to share this with others so that they may come to see it for themselves, through my attitude towards myself and towards them. It is responding with compassion, being a gentle person and drawing the best out of people. (2 Thess 1;11 & Eph, 5;9)

Faithfulness is being full of Faith, reliable and being there for people in need. It is being a keeper of promises and having integrity so what you see is what you get. (Is 25;1 Eph, 3;16-17)

Meekness means respecting myself and others. It means knowing who I am in God. It is living in the power God gives me in Baptism and through His Holy Spirit but at the same time being willing to place myself under God’s authority. It is a the ability to be proactive not reactive, responding but not with aggression. It is accepting all that God puts in my path, but being prepared to step aside when my job is done and encouraging others to carry on. (Gal 6;1)

Self Control is being self aware - knowing me and not allowing me to take over. It is being temperate in my thoughts and actions and not eating too much or drinking too much (or too often!) and having no excesses in any area of my life. (Gal 6;1)

Longsuffering is linked with hope and patience. It is the quality of waiting with forbearance, looking to the future good and waiting on God. (Jn 14;1-4) Chastity is not the same as Celibacy.

Chastity is the virtue of loving control and mutuality. It is refraining from disorder in sexual matters and directing our natural desires, our passions and appetites through the prism of love, reason, respect and consideration. Through chastity we use God’s gift of love in the right way, whether we are married, single or celibate. Even single and celibate people need to be loved and have deep friendships, including with the opposite sex, but each life situation has an appropriate way of living as directed by God’s grace (Gal.5; 13- 26).

Truthfulness means living an upright life in sincerity and candour with no hypocrisy and, as the catechism says, being “true in deeds and word” (Jn 8;32 & 1Jn 1;6)

Since hearing Fr Peter Hocken and Fr Pat Collins speaking at the Moment of Opportunity Conferences I have reflected a great deal on the central themes of their talks. Both of them used different words but both reflected the same truth - that unless our Faith moves from the head and knowing, to the heart and loving and then to the guts and service, our Faith will not come to full fruition. As Christians we have to mature. It is not enough simply to attend church on a Sunday. We must live our faith as they say, “24 X 7” - every waking moment. In 2 Cor. 5;17 Paul tells us that in Christ we are “a new creation”, a new self- which is all God’s work. As followers of Christ – Christians - we are called to do the work of God and He equips us for the job. Faith does not take us out of this world. We are embedded in it and God fits us for our calling in it. What the Spirit does is bring transformation and the transfiguration of our lives which enables us to live in a more truthful, generous, open, and just way. His Holy Spirit dwelling in us enables us to live with more goodness, freedom and responsibility and to have an impact on society. He calls us to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly- (in service through and) with our God”. (Mic 6;8) and to be yet another epiphany (manifestation) in the world, witnessing to a God- centred life of action.

Paul tells us that the greatest of these signs or fruits is love. (1 Cor 13.) This means love of God, love of self and others - love above all else. This love leads us into service, into laying down our lives for others as our master did. And this is what the Charismatic Gifts of prophecy, healing, tongues etc which I shall be writing about in the next issue, are ultimately for. They are gifts of service for others. Next time we will take a closer look at these Charismatic Gifts (as mentioned by Paul in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12) and our call to put them into practice. But before this it is good to look at our foundations and how the fruits of the Holy Spirit that I have mentioned above are operating in our lives by answering the questions below.

1. Where do I see fruit in action in my life?
2. Am in too much heart and too little action?
3. Where am I serving?
4. Where am I involved?

Pat Kennedy has a Masters Degree in Pastoral Theology. She is a member of the English NSC, the chairwoman of the DST of the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, where she is clerk to the Council of the Laity and works in Adult formation.