Gospel Reading: Jn 15:1-8
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.”
REFLECTIONS Remain in me
Jesus says this to his disciples at the Last Supper, on the eve of his death. How can they remain in him while he is now bidding them good-bye? That phrase appears five times in the Gospel. The word “remain” occurs eight times. It must mean something.
The disciples have been with Jesus since he called them. They should continue to do so. They will join him in his death and will continue to journey with him in spirit at his Ascension.
They should not be like Judas Iscariot who betrays Jesus and facilitates his capture. Judas falls away for a very irreligious motive. He goes to his opponents, the powers-that-be, and makes money out of Jesus.
Jesus explains that the disciples must remain in him that they may bear much fruit, be effective in their prayers, and become disciples. As a result, the Father will be glorified.
We Christians must follow Jesus through thick and thin. In this way, we glorify God. We cannot glorify God by following our own designs. To remain in Jesus means to keep listening to his words and drawing energy from him by prayer and devotion. We never unplug ourselves from him, our convenient outlet.
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Do you consider yourself charged by your participation at the Eucharist?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
