Appointed To Bear Fruit

"I have chosen you from the world and have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last." (Jn 15:16). Jesus thus addressed the Twelve at the Last Supper, but also addresses us today. Our mission is to carry on the preaching and teaching of Jesus, to be instruments of healing and forgiveness, and to leave a lasting mark on others simply by our presence, a simple word or gesture, or by living our vocation or profession well. Parents certainly make conscious efforts to teach their children manners, right from wrong, respect, values...all the important things. Teachers, like parents, have the opportunity to leave indelible marks on their students.
An alumnus of Central Catholic told me yesterday that he might not be a priest today, had it not been for Br. Godfrey's Latin classes. The seminary entrance test in those days was given in Latin, and after three years of it, this young man was able to pass the test. That was the sign he needed, so he dropped his plans to major in history at a local college and entered the seminary; the rest is history. He said that had he failed the exam, he would have pursued the history degree and abandoned the seminary. Little did Br. Godfrey know that his routine teaching of Latin, which he did for years, would, in this case, bear such lasting fruit. Little do we know as we live through each day doing what seems to be our humdrum tasks that somehow, sometime, we might be planting a seed that will bear fruit in someone's life. May we be faithful to what we are called to do, and trust that our efforts will bear fruit that will last.
Bro. Rene