THE INTIMATE AND ABIDING UNION WITH THE RISEN LORD (The vine and the branches)
First Reading: Acts 9: 26-31
Second Reading: 1 John 3: 18-24
Gospel Reading: John 15: 1-8
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul's dramatic conversion and subsequent happenings in the life of Paul are narrated. Paul who was a fierce persecutor of the Christians is dramatically transformed by the powerful intervention of the risen Lord. Paul (Saul) persecuted Christians in and around Jerusalem. But after his Damascus experience and subsequent conversion, Paul wants to join the Christian community at Jerusalem. But he finds it difficult to be accepted by the community because of his earlier life as a persecutor of Christians. So Barnabas a disciple of good repute, introduces Paul to the Apostles. Paul starts to preach boldly and fearlessly in Jerusalem but the Jews there try to kill him. So he is sent to Tarsus. The early Church grows in strength in spite of much opposition and persecutions.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. John. John instructs us that if we wish to live as God wants us to do, we must keep His commandments. That would mean that we should believe in the name of Jesus and love one another as he commands us to do. Those who keep the commandments are united to Him and the presence of the Holy Spirit is with them.
The abiding presence of the risen Lord in the believer Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus instructs us about the intimate and deep personal bond between Him and those who believe in Him. This relationship is compared to that of the vine and its branches. The branches have to be united with the vine in order to produce fruits. If the branches are cut off from the vine, they cannot be fruitful. Jesus also mentions about two types of branches: Fruit-bearing branches which are pruned to produce more fruits; and those branches that do not produce fruits, which are cut off from the vine. We are united with Jesus through our baptism. Hence, if we are fruit-bearing branches, we have to be prepared to be pruned to produce more fruits. But if we are branches that do not produce fruits, it is time to change our ways so that we too produce fruits, lest we be cut off from the Lord. Let our life be always in union with the risen Lord and be like branches that are united with the vine.
"To start anew from Christ means being close to Him, being close to Jesus. Jesus stresses the importance of this with the disciples at the Last Supper, as He prepares to give us His own greatest gift of love: His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches and says, 'Abide in my love, remain attached to me, as the branch is attached to the vine'. If we are joined to Him, then we are able to bear fruit." - Pope Francis
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