What Remains

In a podcast today, I discovered that Sesame Street was created
in the 1960s to promote social good. The creators were trying
to level the playing field for all kids by teaching them building
blocks such as the alphabet before entering school. I was
inspired, as I could see the program’s impact on my own life
four decades later; Sesame Street taught me my first Spanish
words and modeled kindness in friendship.
This lasting effect of Sesame Street reminded me of a
phrase in today’s Gospel: Go and bear fruit that will remain.
What is this fruit that will remain? In an era of instant gratification, we are accustomed to thinking short term. It can be
a shift to focus on things that last.
It might help to think of others who have helped to bear
fruit in our lives that have lasted. Maybe a teacher’s kindness
encouraged us in a difficult moment, or a piece of art continues to serve as inspiration.
What if we intentionally choose actions that might have
a positive ripple effect? It can be a spontaneous smile, a commitment to a long-term project, or focusing on the growth
of a young person. Do we believe that, through God, we too
might bring something into the world that manifests God’s
lasting love and beauty? God longs to bear loving fruit
through each of us in ways we might never imagine.