5thSunday of Easter (Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: Followers of Jesus bear much fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Theme: We, followers of Jesus, bear much fruit when we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.
Promise: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.”(Jn 15:7)
Reflection:
The grape vine is a plant that requires special attention and for it to bear fruit certain procedures are scrupulously followed to ensure productivity. The most important of these procedures is the intense preparation of the ground on which the vine is planted, which has to be perfectly clean. Vines usually have two kinds of branches – those that bear fruit and those that don’t, and the non-fruit bearing branches are carefully pruned in order to conserve the strength of the vine and promote fruit in the fruit-bearing branches.
The analogy of the vine and vineyard is what Jesus was trying to impress upon the children of Israel in offering Himself as the True Vine that brings abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness. He used this imagery to describe the kind of life that he was offering those who are united with him or will choose to unite themselves to him – a life that will produce the fruit of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).Jesus was trying to help the Jews understand that their lives could never bear fruit if they choose to reject what he offers, and the fruit he was offering is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
“Anyone who does not remain in me will be throw out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned,” (Jn 15:6). What Jesus was actually saying was that just because they were Jews and belong to the nation of Israel doesn’t mean the Israelites were already saved. They had to become branches of the true vine of God.Similarly, just because we are Catholics and go to Church on Sundays and observe the holy days of obligations, doesn’t mean we are already saved, because what actually saves us is an intimate relationship with Jesus who is the True Vine.When we speak of intimacy, it means seeing ourselves as a branch grafted to the vine.This is the only way for our lives bear fruit, giving us access to all the richness and glory of the Kingdom of God, and the promise made to the Jews – the same promise made to us now: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.”(Jn 15:7).
The key to living a fruitful life is to abide in Jesus, and that means putting our complete trust and confidence in Him. In other words, we are to place our lives in the palm of His hands. Those who have the courage to do so will receive whatever they ask of the Father through Jesus.What this Gospel passage is telling us, is that as Christians we are likened to a vine that is either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing.There is no in-between or middle ground and bearing healthy fruit requires pruning. This means that we have to turn away from things that strain our relationship with Christ and block the flow of grace into our lives.These could be anything that displeases God and causes us to sin: our attitude, character, arrogance, indifference, doubt, unbelief and pride. To abide in Christ is to look at our lives with deep introspection, that we may discover where we stand in our relationship with God and why our lives have not turned out the way we expect.
God does not watch us from a distance.He is where we can reach him, and is available when we have need of him. But we can only benefit from his kindness, compassion and generosity when, like the branch, we are connected to the vine. A good disciple can expect two things in life. One is that being connected to Christ enriches our lives because it makes us fruitful. The other is that abiding in Christ brings glory to God. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples,” (Jn 15:8). This is the greatest glory of the Christian life – to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I be one with you in all that I say and do. Draw me close that I may glorify you and bear fruit for your kingdom. Inflame my heart with your love and remove from me anything that would make me ineffective or unfruitful in loving and serving you as my All.
Reflection Questions:
1. Reflect on the areas in your life that prevent you from abiding in Christ.
2. What resolutions have you made to remove the blocks that hinder you from abiding in Christ and enjoying the immense benefit of living a fruitful Christian life?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
May 3, 2015 (Sun) Acts 9:26-31/ Ps 22:26-32/ 1Jn 3:18-24/ Jn 15: 1-8
May 4, 2015 (Mon) Acts 14:5-18/ Ps 115:1-4,15,16/ Jn 14:21-26
May5, 2015 (Tue) Acts 14:19-28/ Ps 145:10-13,21/ Jn 14:27-31
May 6, 2015 (Wed) Acts 5:1-6/ Ps 122:1-5/ Jn 15:1-8
May 7, 2015 (Thu) Acts 15:7-21/ Ps 96-1-3,10/ Jn 15:9-11
May 8, 2015 (Fri) Acts 15:22-31/ Ps 57:8-10,12/ Jn 15:12-17
May 9, 2015 (Sat) Acts 16:1-10/ Ps 100:1-3,5/ Jn 15:18-21
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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