Pastor's Letter 20240428 - 28 April 2024- Fifth Sunday of Easter

[Father Michael]

April 28^th, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme:  “The Vine and the Branches”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Acts 9:26-31)  In Acts, ^†Luke succeeds in shaping, interpreting, analyzing and communicating the data about the early Christian community, which witnessed to its growth and divine provenance.   ^†Paul’s trials, endured after his conversion, first with the first disciples, and thereafter during his missions, are highlighted in today’s Reading.

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(1 John 3:18-24  ^†John regarded the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, as Jesus’ abiding presence with His Church.  In today’s Reading, he reflects on Christ’s commandment of love.  The only voice worthy of more attention than our conscience, is the voice of the One Who created it!  Commitment to God, in deed and in truth, assures the Christian of Jesus’ own abiding presence in his Spirit, and the peace of a clear heart.

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(John 15:1-8)  Jesus uses the image of a vine and its branches to illustrate how close are the ties that bind Him to His disciples.  Our Church is a living and growing reality, and therefore, vulnerable to decay and deprivation.  Vitality, fruitfulness and loyalty are all contingent upon, and directly proportionate to the union of all members, with Jesus, their source of life.  

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Our Need of Community

Christ wrote no books.  He left no buildings or monuments behind.  Yet, Ye did something far greater and more necessary, though less ostentations—He built a community.  That was His “monument!”

During the winter months, the branches of grape vines are pruned—a painful process for the tree, during which the pruning rides the vine of suckers and excess shoots.  Their presence uses much energy, but produce no fruit.  The aim of this “surgery” is not to inflict pain, of course, but to help the plant produce more, and better grapes.  

Then, each spring, vine branches teem with life, in the form of leaves and blossoms.  In autumn, they are laden with grapes.  But they have this life, this ability to produce fruit, only because they are connected to the vine.  Without it, they wouldn’t only become “barren,” but they would wither, and die.  

Jesus knew this, of course, and that is what He meant by His statement, “I am the vine; you are the branches,” heard in today’s Gospel Reading.  It is a simple, but profound illustration of unity, closeness and interdependence.  

From earliest times, following Christ was never just a private, personal matter.  Christians came together to live in community: sharing their faith in Jesus Christ; witnessing to His Resurrection; and living by His teachings. These first disciples had seen Jesus; eaten with Him; and spoken with Him, after His Resurrection.  As a consequence, they had a deep sense of connectedness with Him—one from which they drew great strength.  Jesus had chosen them; made them His friends; and sent them out to bear fruit…the fruit of His love.  

Often, it requires a common danger to bring people close to one another.  The terrible tragedy of 9/11, in New York City, is a glaring example of how people from all walks of life came together to help one another through that calamity.  Standing shoulder to shoulder, they discovered they belonged to the “same family,” who “waxed and bloomed” in recognition of each other as human beings.  They truly “encountered” one another, becoming loyal comrades—many such friendships persisting to this very day!  

People rarely find lasting happiness in possessions, or even in achievements.  In fact, many times our individual interests and concerns “imprison us” within walls, and cut us off from others.  It is only the grasp of a warm and friendly hand that sets us free from this prison of our own making.

It's not difficult to discover many lonely people in our world, crying out for recognition. They have a need to be noticed—not in a “showy way,” or because they have money, or status—simply because they are human beings.  The general need of everyone is to be loved.  Too often, though, we pass one another, without the slightest sign of recognition.  People can even come to Church, and leave again, without meeting anyone else!  

Like the grape vine, we also require regular “pruning.”  There is much that is useless, and perhaps, harmful in our lives, which diminishes our spiritual fruitfulness.  If Christ prunes us through trials, it is only to make us more fruitful.  It is by suffering that a person produces the fruit of understanding and compassion.  

Our world is crying out for community.  The fruit, which Jesus desires from us is primarily that of unity among ourselves.  There should be no such thing as a solitary Christian….  

May God Richly Bless You!

Today's Meditation Music:

He Is life.docx

Click here, to see a recording of today's Holy Mass:

 

Edited April 27 by Father Michael