1.Acts9:26-31
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2.1John
3:18-24
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3.John
15:1-8
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Jesus
the true vine
The image of the vine
and its branches in John’s gospel is very rich and worth exploring the
relationship that exists between Jesus and his disciples. The speech of the
vine and its branches is one of Jesus’ farewell discourse found in the John’s
gospel. The image of the vineyard is used in the Old Testament to express God’s
relationship with Israel both positively and negatively. (Psalms 80:8-13), “yet
I planted you as the choice vine from the purest stock. Then how did you turn
degenerate and become a wild vine?” (Jeremiah2:21). As we abide in Jesus Christ
as the true vine, there is a need for spiritual pruning on the side of Jesus
Christ followers.
The imagery of the vine
and its branches gives us the vision of spiritual relationship that exists
between the faithful Christians and Jesus. The image of the vine and its
branches tells us about the interdependence and life giving. The branches of
the vine make their existence depending on the main vine, in this context when
we go to deeper level reflection on the gospel we understand that the vital Christian
family will flourish if there is a good relationship between Christians themselves
and God. The question we can ask ourselves is that “what is my relationship
with others where I belong?”
“Every branch that
bears fruit he prunes it to make it bear more fruit” In what ways do you see
that you have been pruned by the experiences of life or by the word of God to
be a more fruitful person? Meditating on this question we may come to
understand that due to our life and spiritual experiences we have experienced
the need for pruning and to be pruned.
The parable also
reminds us that we are not the source of our own life, life is the gift from
God, from our parents and from all those who have nourished us, those who have
in one way or another made a contributions to make us to be who we are today.
We need to be thankful people more especially to our creator who is the giver
of life and to our brothers and sisters who have made their contribution
towards our material and spiritual well being.
As Jesus was glorified
by God, also He is glorified by our being fruitful. The gift of life that God
gave to each one of at no cost must be extended to our brothers and sisters who
have not yet identified the presence of God’s gift in their lives. The true
identity of God was unveiled on the Cross (Glory). The question to ponder on is
that “what kind God’s image of God do we portray to others?” Through life
giving to others we give also the praise and glory to God. We are all invited
to defend the sacredness of life, we are invited to fight away all that hinders
the vitality of human person (abortion, euthanasia, suicide etc)
The inseparability of
love of God and love of neighbour is both life giving and challenging. No body
may claim that he abides in God when he/she cannot express the same love to the
neighbour. The aim of spiritual journey is to have the sense of belonging in
God.
From the first reading
Acts 9:26-31 we learn the lesson about room for improvement and spiritual
growth. We get this when Christians in Jerusalem could not accept easily about
the conversion of St Paul, the person who had been persecuting the church of
God. We see in the scenario Barnabas who had been accompanying Paul in his
missionary Journey testifying that really Paul was converted. It can sometimes
happen that after some major changes in our outlook or personality people who
knew us previously are slow to recognize or trust the spiritual growth in us.
In God always there is a room for spiritual growth and finally maturation.
Conversely we can be slow to accept such changes in others. Yet it’s our hope
that such growth is really possible in us and others.
Even a very courageous
figure such as Paul needed a support and companionship to fulfil the mission of
preaching the gospel of Christ, thus in the mission of Christ is not a personal
initiative mission, it is the mission that needs a community support. As we
have seen that Barnabas helped Paul in actualizing his mission goal. We can ask
ourselves that who has supported us in one way or another to be where we are? To
whom have I been a support? In this context we are reminded that discipleship
is all about living in unity and solidarity to ensure that the mission Christ entrusted
to us all flourish to all people of God, more especially to places where people
have not received the good news.
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