5th Sunday of Easter: Jesus is the True Vine and We are the Branches

04-28-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Our Easter journey continues as we reflect on the last I am revelations of Jesus in the Gospel of John. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. Last Sunday, He revealed Himself by saying I am the Good Shepherd who lay down my life for the sheep. Today, Jesus presents another image: The True Vine - to show us how we unite with Him and share in His One life. The way a branch is attached to a vine and receives nourishment through it.

I am the vine, and you are the branches. We can ponder several aspects of the rich meaning of this image. Branches are fully alive only when they remain attached to the vine and bear much fruit. But when cut off from the vine, it dies and withers away. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of remaining with Him to bear much fruit. Living attached to the vine is living attached to Him: He who lives in Me and I in Him will produce abundantly. While a branch detached from the vine, or a person who cuts himself off from Jesus, will wither, rejected, gathered, and thrown into the fire and burn.

To bear much fruit, we must remain in Him. Keeping us spiritually healthy is difficult; bearing fruit is even more difficult. To stay spiritual and produce spiritual fruits of faith, hope, and charity, or keep sheep in the fold or bring back a lost sheep, we must remain with Jesus. We cannot bear fruit unless we remain in Him. Without Me, you can do nothing. Are we united and connected to the Lord and draw our power from Him? Are we bearing fruits because of Him or because of our ego? To remain in Him means to remain in His love. But it is not enough that we stay in His love. We must be in His love even if we are pruned or especially when pruned. We hold on to Him during pruning to be strong. If we are experiencing pruning at this time, please listen to the Scriptures telling us: Be still, and know that I am God. (Ps. 46, 10)

If we want to bear fruit, God must prune us. Pruning can be our sufferings and pains; they are meaningful because they make us better and stronger. Sometimes, people overly protected from pains, trials, and sufferings become weak and live an empty and vain life. Take the examples of the saints of our time. Padre Pio and Mother Teresa persevered and remained in God's love and pruning in dark moments. The prayer of St. Padre Pio, Stay with Me, brought out his deep faith in God. While his experience of persecution, the darkest night of the soul, was his share in the sufferings of our Lord. Mother Teresa remained steadfast in her FAITH despite the absence of spiritual consolation. I pray that at the end of our lives, we can say to Jesus: Lord, we remain in Your love no matter what.

I pray that we regularly avail ourselves for spiritual pruning, not only of our sins but also of activities and ways of thinking that have few fruits or none at all. Instead, allow the Word of God to prune us by forming an active and informed conscience. Whatever hindered our growth in the love of God and love of neighbor need to be pruned. The Lord wants us to be fruitful, and the best fruit of the Christian life is not the external changes, achievements, or successes but growth in LOVE. May our words reflect the love in our hearts: loving in deed and truth, and not just in words. May we always be united to Jesus, the True Vine, and reflect His love to others.