Remain in me

Gospel Reflection

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.”

John 15:1-8

How can we be blessed? How can you receive the blessings from the Father? How can you become fruitful and be able to bring God's blessings to others?

Today is Wednesday of the fifth week of Easter and our readings today would tell us that it is by being united, by being one with each other, by being one in Christ would we be able to bear fruit, would we be able to bless others.

In our first reading (Acts 15:1-6) we heard how the first disciples were faced with the question of circumcising the Gentiles who decided to become followers of Christ. 

Some were very strict and they were saying that for those who wanted to become part of them, they should also follow the laws of Moses. But we all know that with Jesus, there is the fulfillment of the law. While the law they were used to focused on the physical - what they should do, how they should behave - Jesus was looking into our relationship with the Father and in each other. 

So, how did they resolve this issue? They came together to discuss the merits of the case. It was not just a decision of one person, but, they came together as brothers and sisters, a synodal church, where everyone is heard, and for them to truly discern and for the Holy Spirit to be stirred up in them. 

They needed each other. 

Unity was the answer for them to settle confusions and conflict, and, as a church, we continue to do that.

Our Gospel reading also emphasized the importance of unity - not just with one another but more importantly our unity with Christ, and in the process, our unity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Our gospel reading today took place after the last supper when Jesus was reminding his disciples how they should live their lives as his followers. We heard how Jesus used his favorite image - the vine and the branches - which is also very familiar with the Jews at the time.

He wanted to remind his disciples of three things:

First, that for them to be able to truly bear fruit in their Christian lives, they should always be connected with him. They should not separate themselves from the vine, for only then could the branches live and bear fruit.

Without me you can do nothing, Jesus said. And surely this is true because when we gave our lives to Jesus, literally, we should dedicate our lives to him and for him. There should be no such thing as taking it back. Walang bawi-bawi. And he promised that if we would hold on to him, we would bear fruit. We would bear much fruit.

Secondly, he reminded them that they would be undergoing so much trials, this is the pruning that would allow them to bear much fruit. What is it that would be pruned?

When we decided to follow Christ, when we truly truly decided to follow Christ, we should also be able to open ourselves to change, to change ourselves, to make ourselves better, to make ourselves become more and more like Christ whom we decided to follow.

For this to happen there is a need for us to prune our bad attitude, negative behavior, un-Christian habits and way of thinking, and others.

We need to prune whatever it is that brings us far from God, far from others, far from our brothers and sisters who are in need. We need to prune whatever it is that divides us, that separates us, that splits us from God.

Thirdly, Jesus assures his disciples that he will be with them, always. Several times did Jesus tell his disciples that he will continue to remain in them, but for this to happen they too must remain in him. Meno, mene, meinate. 

I will remain in you, but you must remain in me.

Jesus said: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you."

If we unite ourselves with Jesus, if we do what he asks us to do - love God and to love our neighbors, if we allow God to remain in us, then like Jerusalem, we would be a strong city (Psalm 122:1-5), we would become strong, able to deal with the difficulties of life, with the challenges that we are facing, becoming blessings for others, God's gift for others.

Let this be our prayer.

📸 Andrea Cairone | Unsplash