The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control. Galatians 5:22

A friend of mine often observes, "I don't know how to define what a classy person is, but I sure know one when I see one." Being "classy" is an elusive concept, difficult to describe but easily pointed out when we see that quality embodied in the actions and attitudes of a living person.

In the same way, we don't walk around wearing name tags that identify the fruit of the Spirit at work in our lives, but we can recognize peace, patience, kindness, generosity , faithfulness and self-control when we see those virtues in the holy ones who walk among us.  Hopefully, others can also discover those same qualities in the way we relate to the people and events we encounter in our everyday lives.

Holy Spirit, may you be visibly present in the way I move through the world today.

Sr. Chris Koelhoffer, I.H.M.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Luke 17:15-16

When our children are young, we school them in saying "thank you" for any courtesy, gift or praise given them.  What we're really teaching them is awareness, the ability to recognize and name what they've received as grace.  And so it goes for the rest of our lives.  Before we can say thank you, we have to live in awareness of what comes to us as gifts large and small: the start of a new day, a brilliant sunset, a word of affirmation, a job offer, the successful end of a course of treatment, a hug from a child, a relationship on the mend.

Every one of the ten lepers had been healed, but only one recognized and named God's healing presence in his life. Only one realized, returned and gave thanks.

Loving God, lead me into awareness of your gracious gifts to me today.
                                        

Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.

Without Cost You Have Received; Without Cost You Are to Give

Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Matthew 10:8

Like the Apostles, we live in a quid-pro-quo society: You help me, and I'll help you. I can help you get a better job, lose weight or learn a new skill, but it'll cost you.

How radical, then, to be directed to help others simply because we can, with no expectation of a return on our investment.  Yet that is precisely what Christ calls us to do: share our gifts without a thought for what we might receive, spiritually, emotionally or financially. And the amazing thing is that when we act in Christ's name, we are repaid far more than we could have ever imagined — in love and faith and growth on our spiritual journeys.

Lord, help me to love the way you desire: unreservedly, with no exception of reward.

—Melanie Rigney