Tuesday of week 6, II

Fruitfulness
Mark 8:14-21

 We have seen fruits in the letter of St. James, by our actions pleasing to God, we are like first fruits of God's creation.

Jesus in the gospel reminds the apostles of the fruits of the Pharisees in contrast with his fruits as reflected in the multiplication of the loaves.

You will know a tree by its fruits.  There are two fruits, the fruits of life and the fruits of sin.  Let us focus on the fruitfulness of being servants of God.  These are:

1. Holy actions - God's son's and daughters reflect God's holiness in thought, word, and deed; this is in contrast with the open admittance of man's fallenness that he doesn't have any intention of rising from the state of fallenness.
2. many are saved - define salvation wholistically and integrally; not just spiritual salvation; and
3. the glory of God is revealed - every action, thought, or word gives testimony to the glorified Lord.

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