Today’s reading catalogs various seasons of life, 28 of them arranged in sharp contrast to one another and yet each an undeniable part of human existence.

The psalmist says, in prayer and song, “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy.” We say it in the creed we most often use in our worship service: “God is with us. We are not alone.

Today’s scripture reading comes from Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. Romans is unusual in that Paul did not found the church at Rome and had never even visited there.

Bearing Fruit is an Image Jesus Used.  Jesus said that we will know people “by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?  In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”