Sunday, May 2, 2021 - Fifth Sunday in Paschal Time - Abide in me, as I in you, says the Lord; he who abides in me bears much fruit - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 15, 1-8
Before his disciples, Jesus revealed himself as the vine. The message he wants to convey is clear, so let's examine it and accept it with faith. Jesus is the vine, God, the Father is the vineyard, the apostles and we are the branches.
As a reminder, in the Scriptures, the people of Israel are the vineyard. However, the vineyard was not producing grapes as God expected. In other words, God put his hope in this people, but unfortunately, they did not live up to their expectations.
In human life, everything is related. In fact, the vineyard, the vineyard and the winegrower are interconnected and interdependent. Everyone is responsible for obtaining good and abundant fruit.
God is indeed the winegrower. Every grower expects a good and satisfying harvest. As a cultivator, God already gives all the graces, the blessings for the planted vines to grow and bloom and bear fruit. Jesus is the true vine, he represents the people of Israel, he is the vine that does and lovingly accepts the will of the vineyard. We the baptized are the branches. What is our commitment to the vine which is Christ? It is to be in communion of life with him: "the branch cannot bear fruit by itself if it does not remain on the vine."
God has united us to Christ and we cannot separate ourselves from the vine. Like any plant, separated from the root, we wither and eventually dry up spiritually. "He who abides in me and in whom I abide, that one bears much fruit." This is what the saying goes: "A good tree does not produce bad fruit and a bad tree does not produce good fruit." What about us, are we really producing good fruit? If we are in fellowship with Jesus, we will live. Also, let us be pruned, accept to be stripped of the greedy, that is to say, accept the corrections. "What brings glory to my Father is that you are bearing much fruit and being my disciples," Jesus said. God expects us to bear fruit, let us try not to disappoint him.
