FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR B
Acts 9:26-31; 1 Jn 3:18-24
Ps 22; Jn 15:1-8
CHRIST THE SOURCE OF OUR FRUITFULNESS
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:5)
The vine, in the Old Testament, has always been the symbol of Israel: “You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land”. (Ps 80:9-10). Israel as the vine of God is to bear fruits by which all people will come to know God. Israel was to be the place where God’s life and goodness precedes to all people. But Israel the vine of God does not produce the desired fruit ;“…My beloved had vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes but it yielded wild grapes”. (Is 5:1-2)
When Jesus declared “I am the true vine…” (Jn 15:1), he is making himself to be the fulfilment of all that Israel was to be, but was not. To use “true” is in opposition to “false” which obviously refers to Israel. Jesus is now the locus for true life, joy, peace and fellowship with God for the disciples, all Jews and for all people. The disciples and all people who desire these merits are the branches. But they are not branches on their own, their source of life is Jesus.
God the Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away…” the one who comes to Jesus must oblige himself to bear fruits worthy of the graces he receives from the Lord. He must allow himself to be driven by the commandments of the Lord. When this does not happen, he is cut off from the vine. These categories of people could still be in church but their spiritual life is fruitless.
But “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit”. Pruning is to cut off excess elements so that the yield may be more. This represents those aspects of our lives that are unnecessary that must be cut off must be cut off. They may be the means by which the pests and insects of sin that infest our lives. These could be our own behaviours, friends or even occupations. It could even be an advocacy in which we are involved that is against the Word of God. The pruning of God is to help us abide with Jesus. What this means is to live by his word and commandments.
This more importantly goes to all those involved in any king of church activity, be it catechesis, leader of a group, a committee member or any other apostolate, apart from the lord you can’t do anything.
Sometimes we deceive ourselves that we can do something but with the lord we can do a lot. But that is not what the Lord says, he says “without me you can do nothing”. Without him all that we may achieve will have no spiritual merit. Without Jesus we would soon get fed up and burnt out.
Jesus is the source of all life and goodness. Those who reject him will severely be dealt with by the gardener (the Father) while those who accept him will find life in its fullness and fruitfulness. (Jn 10:10)
Every apostolate of the Church must begin with Jesus and lead to Jesus. it is only with Jesus that we can bear lasting fruits worthy of the kingdom.
You can’t build your life without Jesus.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
