Bearing Good Fruit
Hello Reader, "Thus, you will know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:20 Last spring, my husband and I headed to the greenhouse to gather the plants needed to fill the front flower pots and do some planning for our tiny garden box. My husband, who is in agriculture but is not in horticulture, saw an orange tree and was intrigued. He decided to purchase the tree, take it home, and see what came of it. At the time we lived in Iowa, I was not convinced that we would see an orange tree produce fruit in Iowa. But we both decided we would accept the challenge. The tree survived the summer! And a move to Kansas! And, through all that, it produced a tiny little orange. Through a lot of watering, cultivating, and problem-solving to get enough sunlight at just the right angle, we were able to grow an orange indoors in Kansas. When doing apostolate work and evangelization, it's important to reflect on whether you are bearing fruit in your work. We have to note that we may not be able to see the fruit we bear this side of heaven. But I do think that if we ask to see the graces that have come, God can and will reveal them in His time. I recently read the article America's Most Fruitful Dioceses: A Look at the Numbers written by J.J. Ziegler at the Catholic World Report. In a series of articles, he analyzed seminarians, weddings, infant baptisms, and non-infant receptions into the Church. He found significant variations among the nation’s dioceses, and he ranked them in each category, and then he ranked them in overall fruitfulness. It was an interesting read. I really appreciated the data and the statistics that he highlighted. It's important to note that he only took into account the fruitfulness amongst the Catholics in the diocese and not the total population. I encourage you to take a look and see where your diocese ranks! You might just be surprised. This week, we are continuing to get things ready for the Advent Encounter event. The Waiting Well books have arrived and will be shipped out to the parishes hosting the events soon. You can save the date for the next Praying Mother retreat, and don't forget to pray the November Prayer. Let us continue to grow in Faith + Community together. St Francis Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!! Blessings, Natalie PO Box 132, Hays, KS 67601 |
Women at the Well
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Dear Friends, This Sunday we hear the beautiful and personal encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well, St Photini. Third Sunday of Lent Gospel: John 4:5-42 This passage formed and shaped the apostolate, but it continues to form and shape each one of us every time we join in mission to grow in Faith and build community. The passage begins so simply: "Give me a drink" Jesus is tired and thirsty. He comes to the well at noon - the hottest part of the day. A woman arrives alone, and instead...
Dear Reader, In this Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16), Jesus speaks words that are both simple and deeply reassuring: "You are the salt of the earth.... you are the light of the world." Jesus does not say you should be or you might become -- He says you are. Right where you are, in the midst of our ordinary days, God is already at work through us. Often, we think that faith has to be loud or extraordinary. But Jesus reminds us that his light shines through the small, faithful acts: the...
DearReader, In this Sunday's Gospel, John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and proclaims, "Behold, the Lamb of God" Many of us are in seasons filled with questions: about relationships, work, faith, and whether what I am doing is enough. This Sunday's Gospel reassures us that uncertainty does not mean absence. God often reveals Himself gradually, as we learn to notice where the Spirit is already at work For women and mothers, much of life is lived in the ordinary: caring for others,...