Second Reading: 1 Jn 3:18-24
Gospel: Jn 15:1-8
We are in
the fifth Sunday of Easter. The call of today’s reading is to ‘abide’ with God.
Last week Jesus presented Himself as the good shepherd. This week He presents
Himself as the vine. In Israel, one group of people were involved in sheep
rearing while another group of people were involved in agriculture. Last week Jesus’
teaching about good shepherd appealed to one group of people, similarly today’s
teaching about the vine and the branches gets the attention of another group of
people in Israel. In presenting the good shepherd understanding of God, Jesus
stressed that the relationship between the shepherd and sheep is very close and
greater than the relationship of parent and the child. Thus, each one is cared
by God more than the parents do. Today Jesus stresses that the relationship
between God and human is necessary and inevitable. While sheep can go around
without the shepherd, the grapes cannot shoot unless the branch is united to
the vine. Thus, the relationship with God is necessary not only for our
protection – as shepherd do for the sheep – but for our very existence itself.
The deep
bond that exists between the vine and its branches are seen in the fruit it
bears. Jesus says He is the vine, we are the branches (Jn 15:5). God the Father
is the vine dresser who does constant pruning to make the fruitful branches to
bear far better fruits. In today’s world many people express disappointment and
despondency in the face of evil. The existence of evil in all the places has
made the people convince that striving for truth and standing for values are non-achievable
things and meant for few people who are indifferent to worldly life. Yes, it is
the reality. In every other person we meet, in every other we place we visit,
we inexorably face lie, deception and distrust. In all these we need to
remember that at times we also become the agents of evil to others. If everyone
says that s/he is facing evil everywhere in varied forms then all of us are
evil to others at some time. If so then, who is the cause for it? Everyone blames
the other as evil, if not blames the society as a whole to be evil. But hardly
anyone takes the time to introspect and see who the root cause is. Jesus who
came into the world to destroy the evil from the face of the earth did not tell
us how to uproot the evil rather He has directed us how to be good and bearers
of good fruit. Yes, if there is evil in all of us, then all need to change. Evil
thinking, devising evil, malice in all forms emanate from where one is rooted. Thus,
if we are rooted in good soil we would give good harvest (Mt 13:8, 23). If we
are united with the vine then we will bear fruit. Therefore, to be good to
others and spread goodness in our place we need to be united with our Lord, the
true vine. The good shepherd accompanies us, He is constantly taking care of us
but are we rooted in Him?
The branch
that is united with vine will only bear grape fruit, any branch that is either
not united with the vine or untied to another tree will not bear any fruit or
evil fruit respectively. We are known by our fruits (Mt 7:16). In the second
reading St. John tells that we need to love in deed and in truth. By this only others
know we belong to Christ. Abiding with Jesus means to keep His commandments (1
Jn 3:24). If we do this then He will abide in us. As the root goes deep inside
the soil in search of water we need to go deep inside the commandments of God
to stand firm. If everyone does so, then there will be good everywhere. The
presence of evil everywhere is only a manifestation of people’s rootedness to
the evil or oscillating nature (not abiding with anything worthwhile). In the
first reading, St. Paul preaches about Christ boldly to Hellenists. This
boldness and his resoluteness to missionary work are manifestation of his
rootedness and abiding with Jesus the true vine. He is the tree of life. If we
are rooted in Him, whose is rooted forever in God the Father the living water
then we never become futile. Good shepherd is accompanying us, so let’s us get
rooted in Him to bear much fruit.
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