THURSDAY 23RD JULY
John 15, 1-8:
“As the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me.
Today, Jesus compares himself to a vine, whose branches are us.
A vine that the Father takes care of with concern and affection so that it bears the desired and expected fruits.
Jesus sets two conditions for the fruitfulness of the branch:
1: THE SHOOT: cut off everything that can impede the abundant circulation of the sap for the good abundance and quality of the bunch.
2: TO REMAIN IN HIM: separated from him, we can do nothing. Detached from the trunk of the vine we are called to sterility and dry out.
Think today of all that you must cut down so that the life of Jesus may flow freely through you and you may bear good fruit.
Do not be afraid of pruning. It may hurt you, at first, to strip yourself of certain things.
But in the long run, the fruit of your life will be better.
Trust also your permanence in the True Vine.
Remain in Christ through prayer, through a profound encounter with his Word, through your frequent participation in the Eucharist and in the sacrament of forgiveness.
Good day.
Antonio Maria Sanjuan Marin, cmf
