The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 5th Sunday of Easter: Year B
“Jesus said to his disciples, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” (John 15:1)
The true vine does not suggest that there are false vines but rather, it makes us realize that there is a “main” vine that, like veins and arteries, brings us the air we breathe and takes away spent oxygen to be expelled. Jesus goes on to say, “He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. So, either way we get cut. We can be cut off, or, we can be trimmed so as to grow more fruit for God. The fruit that God is seeking is love.
I find myself, at times, doing too many things. And in order to get better at what I really want, I have to let go of some busyness so that I can more fully concentrate on what is more important. It is when I fully concentrate on what I want that I am more productive, more fruitful.
Jesus says, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing;” (John 15: 5). This metaphor or vision of God as Vine Grower apart from the vine itself works. God is Other-than-us, but we are the produce of God’s hands and heart. Jesus says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Let us pray:
Oh Most Holy Lord Jesus, the Incarnate I-AM, breathe on us with your Holy Spirit in order that we might better understand our calling in this life and let go of all unfruitful interests. As you are our connection to the Great Vine Grower, feed us Lord Christ in order that we will be properly nourished for the doing of God’s will and produce the fruit God is looking for. In your most Holy Name we prey: Amen.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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