While the Advent wreath is traditional, who says it has to be a circle of greens with four candles? A holiday centerpiece with room for four pots filled with moist moss and a candleholder within could be added for each Sunday of Advent. Each pot might even decorated with a symbol for each Sunday: the first Sunday of Hope, the second of Peace, and the third of Joy, and the fourth of Love. Grow your own Fruits of the Spirit! Surround with a few pomegranates or more, as we discuss the meaning of this type of seed….
Scripture:
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Thoughts:
The pomegranate is the fruit that many think is the illustration that Paul used for the fruit of the Spirit. It figures prominently in Old Testament symbolism, appearing as decoration on the the priests garments, the pillars in the Temple, and as one of the fruits carried out of the promised land by Israel’s spies. Being a beautiful fruit, it is also used in the Song of Solomon allegory.
We await in hope for fruitfulness of Christ to be born within us this season. He is our root, the root of Jesse, and our grafting into His life means a bounty of beautiful fruit from what was once the dry tree of our lives. When we look on the pomegranate and think of its refreshing taste, we look forward in hope for what God is able to create in us.
Why do you think God directed this to be an important symbol in our worship of Him?
- The many beautiful seeds speak of fruitfulness, and reminds us that God wants us to be productive of good qualities and of benefit to others
- Also associated with rebirth
- Pomegranate seeds are healthful and nutritious
- They are richly beautiful in color and form; God seems to have delighted in placing beauty everywhere throughout creation
If you have a Mediterranean climate, you can grow a pomegranate tree
Peel, seed, and juice a pomegranate
Many Pomegranate recipes
Pomegranate trees do well in hot, dry climates with little to no care.
Grenadine is the syrup made of pomegranates.
What is the pomegranate fruit like?
Its fruit is a globular rosey maroon red outside. However, it is the seeds in juicy ruby red rows, fitted within creamy white crannies made by the fruit’s membrane that are so delicious. Sweet, yet slightly astringent, the seeds are juicy, but with a pleasant crunchiness. Delightful as a garnish on salads, or strewn across a meat dish, they give flavor, texture and color.
Pomegranate is the healthiest of them all because it contains the most of every type of antioxidant. It wins in all categories. And it’s thought that it might do some very good things; it may protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer. It might also modify heart disease risk factors, and it could be healthy for your heart. –UCLA study
Activity:
Make your flower pot candleholder or just buy some pomegranates and enjoy a new ( or favorite!) taste treat. They are in season from October through January.
