“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
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit
May brings new adventures--graduations, priestly ordinations, summer camps, family vacations, visits with grandparents, vacation bible studies, church bazaars and picnics. Many memories are made. What do they all have in common? Life and love! We do together and grow in love.
The Church has life and love when we attach ourselves to God. We become a thick rich branch bearing fruit. But along comes sin and we separate and detach from God and all we can produce are wild bitter grapes. A vine cannot bear fruit without its branches and the branches cannot grow without the vine.
But in order for fruit to grow we must abide in Him, live in loving union with Him. Allow Him to work through us.
So how does one abide in God?
(1) Keep His commandments.
(2) Sacrificial love for others in works and deeds.
(3) Let God prune us--we need to set our priorities straight and keep only those things that help us grow spiritually. Be more disciplined in worldly activities and attachments.
(4) Help others to abide in God.
(5) Live a truly Eucharistic Life.
The source of our life is God and the Mass is the ultimate sacrifice and our spiritual food, Jesus, for our journey.
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