Ask Jesus, What do you want to say to me? Jesus is always trying to speak to us, but often we do not take the time to listen. In the Old Testament, Israel is often represented as a grapevine (Ps 80:8; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21). Rev Dr Graffy said of his five-year appointment by Pope Francis in 2014: It is an honour to be nominated by Pope Francis as a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. Catholics striving for holiness, I AM THE TRUE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES.. he that abideth in me, and I in him; which is the case of all that are once in Christ, and he in them: the same bringeth forth much fruit; in the exercise of grace, and performance of good works; and continues to do so as long as he lives, not by virtue of his own free will, power, and strength, but by grace continually received from Christ: for without me ye can do nothing; nothing that is spiritually good; no, not anything at all, be it little or great, easy or difficult to be performed; cannot think a good thought, speak a good word, or do a good action; can neither begin one, nor, when it is begun, perfect it. Webster's Bible Translation Listening: Remaining happens as we just start the conversation with Jesus. All rights reserved. When someone is nearing death, what do they talk about? But we were not created to be self-sufficient. The expression is one, therefore, strongly implying dependence. HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A. EASTER SUNDAY 2023 URBI ET ORBI. He also, by his work as Mediator, gives life to the world John 6:33, and it is by the same grace and agency that it is continued in the Christian. And we will be united to him by keeping his commandment, which is to believe by faith in his name and loving one another as he commanded us (2nd reading). We are the body of Christ, and He is the head. By the grace that is given to us in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, Christ remains in us and we in him. Perhaps most of all, we live in a world that is grounded in myths of unlimited growth. (LogOut/ Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Nothing. A few hours after He finishes these words, He is arrested, tried, and crucified. "Be Still and Know that I Am God" "Pray Without Ceasing" "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made""All Things Work Together for Good" "Do Not Fear", 7 Myths about Modesty Christians Should Stop Believing, 8 Reasons Why It's Hard to Separate from a Narcissist, The Unexpected Food That Sparked a Reformation, Boy Turns All The Judges In Seconds With Dont Stop Believin Audition, 13-Year-Old Turns Into Viral Sensation With 'Moon River' Blind Audition - Audition Videos, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 6 Guiding Verses about Family Relationships. We are not the only stewards of Gods creation. PATRONAGE DOCTORS, / SURGEONS / MIDWIVES. Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. So Rev. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5. John 15:1-10 REFLECTION I am stumped for hymns on this lesson. This is so in line with the way Jesus taught throughout His ministry, taking everyday items as analogies for Kingdom truths. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Children of the Vine. WHAT IS HOLINESS ACCORDING TO CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? He knows the end is near. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. (Comp. He is already looking over the cliff, into the darkness He is about to fall with the cross. Probably from the base of amphoteros and that of halon; a vine. And thats a good thing. How do we learn to remain in Jesus so that He becomes like home to us? When we receive Communions wine and bread. For worship, flame and flower. I am the vine; you are the branches. Zip. 4. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." KJV Abide in me even as I abide in you. A primary pronoun of the first person I. Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular. And to bear these fruits we have to be like the branches attached to the vine. Although the sound bite perhaps most associated with the passage is "I am the vine, you are the branches," that actually introduces the second half of the passage. This text was not in the old lectionaries as far as I can tell so, for . You and I are instruments of Our Lord to bring souls closer to Him not only through our prayers, but also through our words, our good example and real friendship with the people He has placed beside us, with all the naturalness and while fulfilling our human obligations in the ordinary conditions of our life. Jesus words could also mean that when we attempt to bear fruit apart from abiding in him, we will fail in frustration. We arent just believing a set of truths. But the metaphor of vine and branches is not just about communion with Jesus and each other. Rolly Arjonillo, Your email address will not be published. Pax et bonum! A personal reminder for myself. He is already looking over the cliff, into the darkness He is about to fall with the cross. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. In fact, the grapevine is mentioned more often than any other plant in the entireBible. and praise you, God, for Earth and all its care, may awe and reverence ripen in these hands, For SHELDONIAN, seehttps://hymnary.org/tune/sheldonian_taylor. Photo Credit: GettyImages/Javier Art Photography. Ask yourself, Where was I remaining today? Then talk to Jesus about your desire to remain more in Him. Now we understand a bit more about our verse at hand. the tendrils climbing curl, the prunings grief; we drink the blue, the dusky purple, and the pale. The, the definite article. To even add more shape to the idea, Paul uses another metaphor. Thank you and I pray all those who visit here will be abundantly blessed. Required fields are marked *. Share to help others in their Catholic faith and life. We are in Christ, literally and figuratively. The words bring out the fulness of the meaning of the fruitfulness of the man who abides in Christ. NIV I am the vine; you are the branches. When Jesus says He is the true vine he is contrasting Himself from the vine of Israel. How do we do this? By these earthy things we learn how precious and loved we are, in body as well as soul. CHAPTER 15. We are in such close proximity to Him that when He died on the cross, we died with Him, and when He rose from the dead, we did as well into a new life (seeRomans 6:1-10). Being with Him is like being at home on your favorite couch. Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular. This idea has a few important consequences: There is so much more that could be said about all this, but Ill leave it here for today. Because we had goodwill, we made the act of faith that brought us to Christ and received from Him, the dignity of adoptive sonship which made us His own kinsmen, according to the words of Saint Paul: He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 2003 - 2023 Brentwood Diocesan Trust - Registered Charity No. the quiet winter rest, the surge of spring; we eat the summers heat, the cloud and rain. Now we understand a bit more about our verse at hand. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. For the Christian, it is not necessary to learn one by one to display each fruit of the Spirit, merely abiding in Christ will cause us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt 22:37-38). HOMILY 2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. The persons thought of all through this allegory are true and false Christians, and nothing is said of the influence on men of the wider teaching of God, the Light of the Logos ever in the world. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing., KJV I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing., NKJV I am the vine, you are the branches. He himself is the vine, and his followers are the branches. This means, primarily that Christ exists, and in existing, has the qualities of his Father. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (Jas. margin.) Let the wisdom of John teach us how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us: The proof that we are living in Him and He is living in us, is that He has given us a share in His Spirit. To even add more shape to the idea, Paul uses another metaphor. At first glance, we may assume that branches bear fruit, but in another sense, its really the vine that makes it all happen. Remaining in Jesus is not just one of many things we are asked to do as Jesus-followers. To try to do otherwise would be to try to function as a decapitated body! He is saying something so close to His heart, hoping we will hear Him and receive those words. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. We dont have to plan for it. Apple of My Eye. Bearing fruit then just happensbecause its ultimately His fruit, not ours. He destroys every branch in me which does not bear fruit; and he cleanses every branch which does bear fruit, so that it may bear more fruit. It would be unthinkable to suggest that a branch has an identity apart from the tree from which it grows. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Hosea 4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. It is not likely that Jesus means that they could lose their salvation, an impossibility for those truly saved, but that they and we could remain unfruitful and ineffective in our faith because we are not connected to the source of life. Worship Schedule:Sat. Saint of the Day 18 April Blessed Barbara Aurillot / Marie of the Incarnation OCD (1566-1618)Widow, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8snT2h5yw&list=PL-p4Wa86hQ2XawYL0P6wv_9sZpeRMYD10&index=85&t=0s, APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, DECEMBER The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FEBRUARY THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, NOVEMBER Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PATRONAGE A HOLY DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, PATRONAGE ACCOUNTANTS, MONEY MANAGERS etc, PATRONAGE against ALCOHOLISM, of ALCOHOLICS, PATRONAGE Against DOUBT, those in DOUBT. We were created to live connected to God and to each other. Stillness:Try to sit in silence for 5-10 minutes each day. Like branches growing from a vine, we now draw our life from Christ and we cling to His holy commandment, in order to preserve this life. Reflection and Hymn: Vine and Branches. 2 Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. 3. that the reason why others fail of being holy is because they are unwilling to look to him, and seek grace and strength from him who alone is able to give it. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast. The persons thought of all through this allegory are true and false Christians, and nothing is said of the influence on men of the wider teaching of God, the Light of the Logos ever in the world. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. Such a simple statement, yet you can spend a lifetime plumbing the depths of it. We arent just practicing wholesome ethics. A GENERAL LIST OF MORTAL SINS ALL CATHOLICS SHOULD KNOW. If we produce things that are not consistent with Jesus mission and message if we produce strife, envy, illness, poverty, or division, for example then something is fundamentally wrong in our faith. New Heart English Bible I am the vine. There are a number of Old Testament references that speak of Israel being a vine, planted and tended by God. To also, I too, but I. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (Jn. 1: . Here Christ is teaching the same Truth, by calling Himself the Vine, since the Vine is the parent of its branches and provides their nourishment. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today. To make this point even stronger, Jesus concludes this verse by stating the same truth in the negative: There is nothing you can do in terms of bearing fruit by yourself. I pray all those who visit here will be abundantly blessed URBI ORBI. 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