Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15, 1-8
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Union
1) Pruning.
Life is built on sacrifice. Everything has a cost in life. As you grow, there are sacrifices that are hard at the beginning, but then they strengthen us. Like the moment when a child, in order to become a teenager, must leave behind his toys and experience new things that appear in life. Crying tears are a part of this “pruning”. Good judgement and discernment come into play here; thinking whether what you sacrifice implies that you are doing it for something greater that will contribute to your life. This is especially true in “affective” relationships. Ask yourself: “Are you with someone who does not contribute good to your life ?” There is a path of discernment in life; every decision implies a process: thinking, consulting, and finally acting. Life decisions are not taken all of a sudden because, it is like a doctor when he operates, any sudden movement could be dangerous! That is why if you do not see things clearly, wait… then think, consult, and act.
2)Remain in me. The word “remain” is very interesting, because “having Christ” does not mean that you have a trophy. One can find Him but you can also drift away and lose Him. Remember: “new day ;new struggle”… that is why today, God reminds you to return to Him and be with Him. Remain in his presence through these 3 things that I always tell you: prayer, the sacraments and by helping others.
3)Detached. Detaching yourself from Jesus can lead you to become dry inside. This is a fear that I have because, those of us who work in the things of God get very enthusiastic and busy with many actions: attending soup kitchens, visiting people, doing missionary work, etc … and they are good and productive things; they lead to healing, but they may lead to you losing that moment of contact with Jesus. This is like talking A Lot About God, But Not With God. Be careful, and do not fall into that ! It is as if I did the audio reflection every day and attend a soup kitchen in the chapel, but I do not take my own time to pray the Rosary or adore the Blessed Sacrament… or even meditate awhile on the Word of God. If I do not make time for the Lord, I might end up “dry”. And what does this “dry” mean? It means being superficial and having nothing inside. God-bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us be united to Jesus more than ever. Remember, heaven is our goal !
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