The first words God said to newly created humanity were: "Be fertile and multiply" (Gn 1:28). Among Jesus' last words before His Ascension were: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name ‘of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' " (Mt 28:19). Immediately before His Ascension, Jesus commanded us to be His witnesses "even to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Jesus expects us to produce abundantly as branches on the Vine, or else we will be "picked up to be thrown in the fire and burnt" (Jn 15:6). Even fruitful branches the Lord "trims clean to increase their yield" (Jn 15:2). The Lord makes it extremely clear we must bear fruit by leading people to Him. Christians bear fruit by making more Christians. During the first Easter season, the apostles were transformed from being fruitless to being fruitful. Expect the same transformation in your life this Easter season and Pentecost. Jesus proclaimed: "My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit and becoming My disciples" (Jn 15:8). "Make disciples" (Mt 28:19).
| PRAYER: | Risen Jesus, the only answer for a sinful, sick, broken, and unforgiving world is conversion to You. May I bear fruit for Your kingdom. Trim me. |
| PROMISE: | "The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy." –Acts 15:3 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. John I standardized the date of Easter and promoted liturgical chant. He reunited a schismatic segment of the Church. He was eventually martyred by Theodoric the Great, an Arian heretic king. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College