Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

 Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter (05^th May, 2021) on the Gospel

 

Acts 15:1-6;

Ps 121:1-5. (R. cf. v. 1);

Jn 15:1-8.

Topic: Branches of the vine.

Jesus used the parable of the vine to illustrate the connection between Him and His disciples. His Father, the vinegrower prunes fruitful branches to bear more and removes unfruitful ones to wither and be thrown into the fire. His disciples were pruned by His words. And He warned,

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.

Saint Paul tells us that we become part of Christ (Christians) to bear fruits for God, cf. Rom 7:4. Good tree bears good fruit whereas bad one bears bad fruit, cf. Lk 6:43; Matt 7:18. John the Baptist warned the Pharisees and the Sadducees who came to him for baptism and in fact all of us, “Bear fruit that befits repentance” (Matt 3:8; cf. Lk 3:8). In line with today’s gospel, John the Baptist went ahead and warned, “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt 3:10). Jesus also gave the same warning, cf. Matt 7:19.

Each and every one of us must therefore prove that he/she is worthy of remaining part of the vine by bearing good fruits. And the desired fruits include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, cf. Gal 5:22-23a. Our Father is glorified by bearing much good fruits. And He will glorify those who glorified Him, cf. Jn 13:32; 2Tim 2:11-12.

Bible Reading: Matt 7:15-20; Gal 5:16-26.

Thought for today: One must bear fruits to live.

Let us pray: God, help us bear good fruits to remain part of the vine – Amen.

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