In today's Epistle reading (2 Corinthians 13:3-13), St. Paul teaches us a vital Gospel principle. How do we know if Christ truly dwells in us? We know by the transformative power he has on the lives of those around us. Indeed, if we are alive in the grace of our Lord and Savior, people we encounter will experience "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Christ's presence always has a unitive, healing effect. Even the occasion of our Lord's crucifixion brought together Pilate and Herod in friendship (see Luke 23:12). If we too are holy, our enemies will also benefit. This is the peace of God's kingdom, and it surpasses understanding. This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. "A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:18-20).
But what is evil fruit? How do we know if we are among those who have "a form of godliness, but [deny] the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5)? Again, we must not look to ourselves, but to the effect we have on other people - even unintentionally, indirectly, and unconsciously. The fruit of false religion and wicked zeal is easy to recognize: "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21). If our practice of Christianity stirs up division and sets even holy people against one another, then it is not a true practice of Christianity.
St. Seraphim of Sarov instructs, "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved." Without that peaceful spirit, without Christ's Spirit within us, we can only bring about bitterness, fear, and rage, no matter how many good works we perform nor how clearly we teach the truth about God. If I "have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal," and my loudness will serve only to irritate those around me (1 Corinthians 13:1). But "God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17).
Are you saving the world? Or are you tearing it down?