A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
REFLECTION
Without Jesus we can do nothing. Without our being part of Jesus and His Word, we cannot and will not produce fruit.
And what are these fruits:
Love or Charity
Joy
Peace
Patience
Benignity or Kindness
Long suffering
Mildness or Gentleness
Faith
Modesty
Self Control
Modesty
Chastity
These fruits are a result of the Divine life in our souls and His many graces to us. A healthy tree will transmit and communicate its own life to the branches. In turn this sap will help the branches produce good fruit.
We will live on in Jesus and Jesus will live on in us.
God Bless You
