I am the Vine, you are the branches...

‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’. (John 15: 5-8)

Jesus uses many images from nature in His teaching. We have a choice to accept or reject. In this passage he is inviting us to make our home in Him, as He makes His in us. The desire to know him, to love him and to serve him will keep running in and through us as long as we ‘remain in him’. Stay connected. In this way, we can bear much fruit, fruit that will last, cut off from Him, we can do nothing. His great love fills our hearts and enkindles love for our neighbour. This love leads us to do whatever we can, to give whatever we can, to undertake whatever we can for the good of others.

Nicolas Barré reminds us: ‘By thinking of God we become conscious of His love. This in turn leads us to love Him. This exchange of love fills us with joy and peace  and helps us to reach out to the other’. And also ‘it is this mutual love of God for you and you for God which you experience’

We pray Lord for the grace  to stay connected to you in this our challenging disconnected world, knowing that without you, there is little we can do.