Walking with Jesus: Fifth Sunday of Easter B

For Sunday, April 28, 2024

Acts 9:26-31, 1 John 3:18-24, John 15:1-8

What does it mean for me to be a Christian? What does it mean for me to go to Church — to receive the Sacraments? Is this all that's required to be a Christian … a Catholic … a believer? As I look out the window and look at nature blossoming and blooming all around me, I know I have to do my part to make it flourish in beauty. Right?

I was curious and looked it up on the web: Soil management requires knowledge about different soils whose impact on plant health is crucial for gardeners. Celebrate gardening is expressing your own personality, your growing conditions and your interests. Let your creativity run wild and you will be successful. Patience gardening is a slow and thoughtful process — more than a sprint. Having the patience to nurture a plant from a tiny seed to full bloom fills one with pride and accomplishment. Plants grow in four stages — seed, sprout, seedling and adult plant — and they need help along the way. Is this any different from initial and continued growth as a follower of Jesus? Do I merely say I am a follower … a Christian … a Catholic … I was baptized ... and there's nothing else to do? Where am I being nourished? Where is my faith being compromised? Where do I find the impetus and momentum to grow deeper in knowledge, understanding and faith in Jesus, and what He did for us and means to us, and how His life is the prime example of living as He commanded?

A garden example from Living The Word: Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days: Pruning vines and plants is a drastic process. Old growth is snipped away to what may seem like a dangerous level, yet its severity is a way in which new fruit/flowers can be produced in abundance. I’m not really a fan of pruning. BUT … today’s gospel points out that we’re either going to be pruned or cut away entirely. It also reminds us that our pruning is not a cutting away but rather a promise for the future, remaining nourished by the vine and the vine grower. We will grow … be alive … be vitalized again. Why? It’s all about the vine grower: Jesus Himself, the Holy Spirit and God’s love.

So do I want God to be in charge? Can I allow God to lead me? Love me? Direct me? It really is the only way. We look to the readings for help:

The Acts of the Apostles leads us through numerous places: It begins in Jerusalem and ends up in Rome. At its outset it focuses on Jews, expanding rather quickly to include Gentiles and all unbelievers. Peter is seen as the leader, yet it devotes more time to Paul who is seen first as an enemy with his execution of Stephen. Jesus has picked out Paul for a special mission, just as He has picked each of us to deal with certain people in our lives. That’s why He created us and placed us here. The church in the Acts experienced conflict both internally and externally. It experienced strength from the Holy Spirit and continued growth and witness of faith in each other. What did they do? How did they do it?

Through his long life and experiences, John shows us how: “Children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth.” [1 John 3:18] Not something we can take credit for, it is God who is with us, develops us and keeps us on the straight and narrow. We grow and live and learn how to live. Jesus supplies a prime model as to how to “love one another.” God, who is love, loves us individually and collectively. Therefore, since we are loved, we can have confidence in God. John starts calling us children, meaning we belong to Him — demonstrating that faith is not merely professing certain truths but living according to them.

Then, in the Gospel, Jesus calls us beloved which is more intimate and personal because it describes our relationship with the language of indwelling — which means we are remaining together in friendship. We are to remain in Him as the center of our lives. When we do, “We remain in Him … and we will bear much fruit.” So we have to be active in our love: not just proclaim love, but live it. This is coupled with the injunction of not only believing in this, but living it in love. This is the basis of authentic Christian life, committed to a way of life that demonstrates loving behavior — the basis of genuine Christian living — loving and living, being Jesus: a person who loves, forgives, gives mercy, and helps all who are needy in love.

So I reflect on:

• Sometimes I want only to be pruned later … I “like” the sin I’m hanging onto. I know which branches (habits, grudges) I hang onto — can I give them up willingly? Where do I see and need God’s help?
• Can I list the branches in me that need pruning? I ask the Lord for His help so I can be pruned and be assured of His strength which will make me more confident and loved.

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“Jesus is the true vine, who shares His life with us, His branches. We are cared for by the Father, who is the vine-grower. This describes an intimate relationship between us, Jesus and the Father. We pray to abide, to live in that relationship, accepting what facilitates bringing forth more fruit.

“Care for the vines involves pruning, but it is done for the sake of life and bearing more fruit. It reminds us that we are asked to let go of some things and attitudes in life that are not fruitful or helpful. Lord, we pay for the freedom to respond to your invitations and to be able to accept the cross.”