Galatians 5:18-25 / Luke 11:42-46
When it comes to following procedures, written instructions are useful and helpful.
With written instructions, then there is a procedure or a process to follow.
And when there is a procedure or a process to follow, then there will be results.
With a procedure or a process to follow, things will be stable and predictable.
In the first reading, St. Paul gave a way of life for the Galatians to follow.
He told them about the way of the Holy Spirit, and their lives are to be directed by the Holy Spirit.
Then they will bear the fruits of the Spirit, fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.
But when their lives are not directed by the Holy Spirit, then they will give in to self-indulgence, and what follows will be rotten fruits.
So we will know the spiritual state of our lives by looking at what kind of fruits we are producing.
The way of the Spirit is not just about following procedures or processes.
The way of the Spirit is not a burden but a blessing.
Let us follow the way of the Spirit and bear fruits of blessings for the glory of God and for the good of others.