The Easter Season is all about celebrating the life we share with Jesus! As we reflect on today’s Gospel and the analogy it gives about the grapevine (see John 15:1-8), we might ask ourselves: “In our lives, how can we be ‘connected’ to Jesus, as grape branches are connected to the vine?”
I think the first and obvious answer is that we must be people of prayer who have a deep and personal relationship with Jesus. In this way we are able to receive life and strength from him who shares his life with us. I think the second answer is that we must be connected to the community of believers and share in its life as well. As many grape branches grow on the same vine, so we are many, and we share one source of life. This common identity should enable us to live together in harmony, and to share in the life of our church and its mission. I believe the third answer to this question brings together the answers to the first and second. That’s to say, we will clearly demonstrate a connection to Jesus, and to the way we share in his life as members of a community, when we place ourselves at the service of others, especially the needy.
Simply put, as Christians we must embrace the teachings of Jesus in our hearts, in our words, in our relationships with others, and in our daily practices. Isn’t it true that if there are no fruits, or demonstrable good works in our lives, then surely we cannot claim to be connected to Jesus and/or to the community of believers? Accordingly, we are reminded by Jesus about the consequences of not bearing fruit, and of being separated from him. He says that such people will be like those branches cut off from the vine by the vine-grower and “thrown into the fire” (see John 15:6). The implication of this is obvious to us. Consequently, each one of us might do well to examine our consciences and ask ourselves: “What are the demonstrable good works, or those fruits that I bear, in my Christian life?”
Today’s Gospel challenges us not to be concerned only with our own needs, but rather it also calls us to look beyond ourselves. As faithful followers of Jesus, we must always work for the good of others, and we must do things that clearly demonstrate his very life at work within us. Jesus tells us “whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (see John 15:5).
May Jesus continue to strengthen us in our personal lives of faith; may he fortify our relationships with one another, and may he always inspire us to dedicated service on behalf of others, especially for those who are most in need. By what we say and do, and as we continue to celebrate Easter, may we joyfully proclaim the life we share with Jesus!
Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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