A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[287] Acts 15:1-6;  Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5;  John 15:1-8

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit” (Jn. 15:8)

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, I am reminded of that part in the Lord’s Prayer when we say, “thy kingdom come.” When I was younger, a priest once told me that this short phrase is one of the most important parts in the Lord’s Prayer. Each time we pray it, we should recall not only our hope that God’s Heavenly Kingdom be made manifest on earth, but we should also pause to reflect on our own lives. What things have we done today to help bring God’s Kingdom more into the world? Likewise, what things have we done or failed to do that have prevented God’s Kingdom from being fully realized here on earth?

When we remain firmly grafted to Christ the true vine, we not only allow him to prune away our faults and help us grow in love for him, we also produce that “fruit” he speaks of in the Gospel today, a fruit for our brothers and sisters here on earth. This fruit can come in many forms (kind words, charitable deeds, etc), and as the Gospel quote at the beginning of this reflection reminds us, the more we produce, the more glory we give to God. And the more glory we give to God, the more we do to bring his Kingdom into the world for the benefit of all.

So the next time you pray the Lord’s Prayer, pause a moment after praying “thy kingdom come” and reflect on how you will produce good fruit today to bring others to Christ.