Bearers of Seeds of Divine Life
Welcome to April where we will finish our Lenten journey, come out of the desert, and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus leaves us with a mission; to be bearers of His love and to glorify Him in our everyday lives.
Each person is a “bearer of the seeds of divine life” (Christus Vivit 67) so in this way we have already entered into the Mystery of God who sends His Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). We need to be nourished with God’s love and the Spirit like a plant that needs fertiliser and herbicides to produce new fruit. Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) will blossom when we are connected to the source of life.
Let us journey together to recognise the seeds of divine life within us. Let us explore ways to be connected to the source of all life and love, to God Himself, who gave us Jesus to be an example of holiness, and ask for help in bearing fruit to share with our families and communities.
Discovering Our Fruit:
S06 E03: I Choose You — Abiding Together
"On a human level, it's hard to understand what God’s love and loyalty is like.. He never leaves!” To be able to bear fruit and to recognise our gifts, we first must believe that we are God’s chosen people. To be grounded in His love and truth will allow us to be rooted in faith and bear fruit for all in our communities and family. The Abiding Together podcast will break down what “I Choose You” means for our daily lives.
Day 159: Bearing Fruit — The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
“You have been chosen among all the nations of the world… Are you living like God’s chosen people?” Fr Mike Schmitz explores Matthew Chapter 11 where Jesus curses the fig tree and its connection to the Chosen people. He is ultimately looking for us to bear fruit and to bless the world through us. Read Matthew 11 and reflect on how you are bearing fruit and sharing God’s blessing. Fr Mike Schmitz shares a reflection from 13:20 to 18:05.
He Wants Our First Fruits - Susanna Spencer on Blessed is She
https://blessedisshe.net/devotions/he-wants-our-first-fruits/?fbclid=IwAR21B1xNNM6XiW7yBwf0Jh8mGkSft57RpTzy9RcKJrpB8QezcTINGnpDa68
How to Discover Your Gifts and Claim Them for Christ (feat. Mari Pablo)
Each of us is uniquely designed to share His love to everyone! Mari Pablo will help us reflect on what gifts you have and how our young people could use their gifts for their parish community and family.
Barriers to Bearing Fruit:
Call it a Delight - Emily Wilson-Hussem on Blessed is She
https://blessedisshe.net/devotions/call-it-a-delight/?fbclid=IwAR0J6oNtBSsTjNXSterP72OxDSoeqexNHfRFlegcrMWLV19KXh5CWcWsutQ
Is Busyness Jeopardizing our Souls?- Chris Hazell on Word of Fire https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/is-busyness-jeopardizing-our-souls/?queryID=485ccd69749bed4df40ca22449954a7f
The more we confidently entrust the future to God, without trying to know it or master it, the more secure and peaceful we are.
Fr. Jacques Phillippe
Youth Group Activity Idea:
Recognising the Fruit!
To recognise the fruit that we are capable of bearing, it can help if we look towards our role models to witness the fruit that they bore. Role models, such as the Saints or ordinary people around us, can reveal so much about how we too can radiate God’s love and mercy in what we say or do. This activity is designed to help the young people to recognise the fruits of role models and how they too can bear fruit.
Find five examples of Saints or biblical, or enough for the number of small groups at the youth group, and ask the small group to answer the following questions:
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Who is this person and what are they known for? What works did they do or what did they say?
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How did this person connect with God? Was it in person and listened to Jesus speak? Did they go to mass or say the rosary as often as possible?
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How can you tell that this person is a daughter or son of God?
Feel free to use saints from past Element editions and encourage the small groups to research the particular person in order to share their findings to the wider group. After the groups have presented, say a short prayer to ask for help in sharing our gifts and fruit to our families and communities.
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