Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 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."

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the only way we can bear fruit is to be part of the vine. We must be linked to God to share in his wisdom. He tells us that if we are not producing fruit, we will be removed from the vine and cast into the fire for a branch cannot survive without the vine. The house of God is the vineyard of the Lord. Many people rejected Christ and by rejecting Christ, they separated themselves from the vine. If we are not connected to the vine, we will dry up and die. But Jesus also warns us that if we are connected to the vine and produce no fruit, we are not fulfilling our obligations. It is not enough to just be a member of the church, one must also produce good works. Some people argue that faith and belief in Christ is enough. Christ clearly tells us here that faith is not enough. It is not enough to just be members of the church. If we receive the nourishment from God, we should use that nourishment to feed others. The graces that we have been given should be turned into nourishment for others. The last point that Jesus makes in this passage is that if we are not producing enough fruit, then our vine needs to be pruned to better our yield. We need to get rid of those things in our life which deplete us and prevent us from reaching our maximum output. God will take care of the vine, we just need to produce the fruit.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, you are the vine and I am the branch.

Prune my branches so I may yield much fruit.

May my fruit be bountiful to those who starve.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael F. Marcon