JOHN 15:5 (Today’s Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8)

Jakarta, 28 April 2024 [5th Sunday of Easter – Year B]

A Christian Pilgrim

 

JOHN 15:5 (Today’s Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8)

Jakarta, 2 May 2021 [5th SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR B]

A Christian Pilgrim

 

TO ABIDE IN JESUS EACH DAY

TO ABIDE IN JESUS EACH DAY

(A biblical reflection on THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [Year B] – 2 May 2021)

Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8

First Reading: Acts 9:26-31; Psalms: Psalm 22:26-28,30-32; Second Reading: 1 John 3:18-24

The Scripture Text

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that is may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. 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. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he is the bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in Me, any words abide in you, as whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:1-8 RSV)

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

This one verse sums up our call as Christians – to abide in Jesus each day, as He abides in us, and so bear the fruit of His life within us. What does it mean to abide? Abiding has to do with remaining, continuing, staying in a place. There is a sense of permanence in abiding, a sense of stability.

Jesus asks us to stay with Him continually throughout the day, in the midst of all that is going on in our lives. His analogy of the vine and the branches illustrate this point beautifully. The branch does not decide to detach itself from the vine at various points in the day. It remains connected to the vine, or it will die.

The same is true for us. Jesus promises that if we abide in Him by turning to Him often throughout the day, He will spur us on and empower us to be His disciples. Jesus’ abiding in us brings forth the love, joy, kindness, and patience that He is looking for. We do not have to produce this fruit by our own unaided efforts at being good. Rather, the life of Jesus abiding in us will come pouring out of us as we abide in Him.

As we abide in Jesus day after day, our Father in heaven will prune and shape us, so that we continually bear more fruit. When Saint Paul was first converted, he was not instantly the great apostle that he came to be. The Lord molded and shaped Paul, using times like his forced return to a quiet life in Tarsus (Acts 9:30) to give him a fuller understanding of the Gospel. Similarly, as we abide in Jesus, the Father purifies us of patterns of selfishness and sin that block the fruits of the Spirit from coming forth in our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for living in me. Make me more deeply aware of Your presence in me. Help me to abide in You today. I want to lift my thoughts to you often and listen to your voice. Prune and cleanse me, Lord Jesus, so that I may bear fruit for Your Kingdom. Amen.

Jakarta, 1 May 2021 [Optional Memoria of Saint Joseph the Worker]

A Christian Pilgrim