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: “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."
When I read the above passage, I am reminded of "Be still and know that I am God." When someone has clippers you better be still, especially if they are wanting to cut something off you. What and where do I need pruning? Could it be from the sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth? Am I judgmental, impatient, overly confident, overly lax, self righteous, argumentative or uncaring? Many times we don't see the withered dried up branches that we carry around. But the rest of the world does.
We are a community and if we are to grow and spread the Word of God, we need to be pruned and dead limbs removed. As Jesus said, "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."
Alone we can do nothing. Be still and let God prune us.
God Bless You.
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