ONE’S ROOTEDNESS

First Reading: Acts 9:26-31
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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