Reflection for Wednesday, Fifth Week of Easter

TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

John: 15:4 "Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you Unless you abide in Me."


1ST READING REFLECTION

The Church has her fair share of issues, and in the 1st reading, there was the issue of circumcision and there was disagreement and a long argument and then further discussions.

It was not a simple matter and there is no easy solution to it as there are different opinions and convictions and different understandings of the practice of the faith.

As much as issues like this can stir up emotions and discussions can turn to ugly arguments, the early Church addressed the matter in a proper way by bringing it up to the apostles and the elders.

The aspect of faith and recourse to the help of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is necessary in order to put the matter to rest.


GOSPEL REFLECTION

This morning’s gospel reading is again taken from John’s account of what Jesus said to his disciples on the night before he died. 

Jesus is taking his leave of his disciples but, before doing so, he wants to assure them that beyond his death and resurrection he will remain in communion with them. 

The image of the vine and the branches expresses the depth of his communion with his disciples, with all of us. 

The Lord wants to be in communion with all of us, but for that to happen we must remain in him by allowing his words to remain in us, by allowing his words to shape our lives. 

We can slip out of our communion with him; we can cut ourselves off from the Lord. 

However, his invitation is always there to return to him and to remain with him or in him. 

It is in returning to him, in remaining in him, in allowing his words to remain in us, that our lives bear rich fruit, what Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. 

According to the last verse of our gospel reading, it is lives rich in the fruit of the Spirit that give glory to God. 

According to Saint Irenaeus, it is the human person fully alive - alive with the fruit of the Spirit - that gives glory to God.


RESOLUTION

Let's resolve to always be in union with Jesus and with each other and by our unity we can solve all difficulties.

GOD BLESS YOU 

Have a nice safe day